This afternoon was currently rather uneventful. I sat like the 'good' Lady I am, beside Sir Guy, as I could see that all the other nobles sitting in their seats watching the archery contest were as bored as I was. I let out a quiet breath sighing. Sadly I had made some descent conversation with Guy, which even made me laugh a little, which made me sick to the stomach.

"Step forward Ford, son of Ford. Son of Ford." The attendant called out as the next archer, a young boy made his way to the platform.

"No sign of Robin Hood." I heard the Sheriff question Guy, as I started to eavesdrop, at the mention of his name. Robin wouldn't be so stupid as to walk in to this competition surely. But yet again he would want to prove he is the best, this tournament is practically screaming I'm a trap for Robin Hood. I bit the inside of my lip hoping Robin wouldn't come, because as soon as his arrow would leave his bow, he would be in massive trouble.

"He’s a coward." Guy sneered as I quickly glanced at him, when the familiar woosh noise rang as I glanced up to see that Ford, had hit the outer ring of the target, as I saw a few snickers in the crowd.

"Close. But not good enough. Keep practising." The Attendant shouted out, as I felt slightly sorry for Ford, as he blushed a deep red from embarrassment before quickly getting off the platform, as the next archer prepared to shoot for the silver arrow that rested on a black velvet pillow shining in the sun light.

"Your Michael the Red better be a winner. I don’t want to have to give this silver arrow away." The Sheriff told Guy as I saw them glance over at the prize. I watched as confusion spread across Guys face as I had to prevent myself from smirking.

"But surely if my man wins then... the silver arrow will be mine." He asked confused as the Sheriff sighed rolling his eyes.

"If Robin Hood turns up and wins, I will hang him and keep the arrow. If he doesn’t, then your man wins and he will return it." I kept on listening intently to their conversation hoping I would hear some good piece of information to hand over to Robin when I next see him.

"I see..." Disappointment dripped from Guy's mouth as he leant back in his chair, as I focused my eyes on the front as the next archer was ready to shoot, though I watched the Sheriff and Guy from the corner of my eye and kept on listening.

"Or I will hold you responsible." The Sheriff threatened as I saw Guy glance at the Sheriff with silent exasperation. I was evident that they had finished their conversation as I sighed disappointed, nothing important. I sat upright, against the cushion chair as I continued to watch as the next arrow hit the outer ring as well.

"Not quite the bullseye." The attendant shouted out as Guy scoffed beside me. I started to feel slightly hungry as I was handed an apple and a knife. Instead of just biting into the apple like I would at home, I began to carefully peel the apple. I was about halfway through peeling my apple until I saw Guy smirk slightly.

"They say the peel of an apple can predict who a woman will marry." He whispered as I could feel his strong gaze on me as I kept my attention onto the apple.

"How?" I asked him curious, with a slight frown as I heard him give a very soft chuckle beside me.

"The curl of the peel represents the first letter of his name." He told me as I almost stopped peeling, frozen, before I quickly cut the rest of the peel off onto the floor, as if it was accident. Guy chuckled slightly beside me, as I was still frozen, as on the wood platform my apple peel was shaped in a perfect and elegant G. I gulped before brushing it away with my foot hoping that Guy didn't see that my peel was a G.  

"Oh." I spoke innocently as he shrugged beside me, as I gave a small sigh of relief. He hadn't seen it.

"Our next archer is Michael the Red." The attendant announced as I saw Guy shift in his seat happily, as his evil smirk escaped on his lips.

"Ah, this will impress y—" He began as he taps the inside of my arm. I froze slightly as the blood had seeped through my bandage and on my sleeve of my dress. Guy frowned confused as he turns his fingers up and frowns at the red stain on them. I felt my heart beat slightly faster before I quickly with the knife in my hand, cut slightly deep a straight line on my palm, under the apple.

"I cut myself." I winced playing along as he looked almost in a frozen daze.

"Your arm?" He asked me still staring at his fingers.

"No, my hand." I told him as I showed him as he glanced down at my cut hand.

"I must have got some on my sleeve." I added quickly as I pulled my cloak sleeve down to hide the blood from the cut on my arm, as he took my hand in his, running his finger over the wound. I winced slightly, it didn't hurt but I thought why not go along with it.  I pulled back as if it stung as I still could see he was dazed and unsure. Before he turned back his attention to Michael the Red, who is dressed in Guy's black and yellow uniform.

I watched as he aims, taking a breath before he lets loose his arrow just as a drunken man steps in front of the target. I gasped slightly covering my mouth with my right hand as I watched him duck just in time, as I gave a sigh of relief. The arrow hits near the centre as the crowd erupted in a cheer. I watched as he runs up to the Sheriff and falls to his knees, gasping and hacking.

"There’s..." He kept gasping as he kept pointing back in the direction in which he had just run from as I frowned, looking at the Sheriff and Guy.

"I think he wants us to follow him. What?" The Sheriff questioned to him as he leant forward frowning in his chair. Guy and I start forward slightly as well, both eager to know what this man wanted.

"The mine’s..." He wheezed once again struggling to keep on his feet. I sat back slightly disgusted. How much alcohol had this man consumed?

"The mine..." I heard the Sheriff confirm nodding his head as the man fell to his knees coughing before he sat on his knees looking up at the Sheriff.

"R-Ro-Robin Hood."He managed through his nasty coughs as I gave a silent chuckle. Oh dear, my dear brother Robin what have you done now.

"Robin Hood, hm, the mine."

"Fire!" The man cried out once more as I was biting on my lip on the inside, the Sheriff obviously not getting the message.

"Robin Hood, mine, fi—" I was rather amused as I saw the sudden shock on his face, as he realized what it was that the man was saying as he quickly jumped to his feet horrified.

"Soldiers! Soldiers!" He shouted as Guy beside me and soldiers around us quickly left their posts and ran towards the stables, before I watched them riding off towards Treeton Mine. I smirked as the messenger collapsed utterly exhausted on the platform, before he was dragged off. I felt my tensed body relax, as I took this time to excuse myself and clean the wound on my hand, and put a simple bandage on it before I made my way back to my father.

"Esme" His voice was full of that warning tone as I sighed and turned to him.

"Esme this has got to stop! Did you not see what was happening with the villagers today! What if you are caught!" He hissed as I couldn't say anything but look at him sadly, before my frail father shook his head at me disappointed and returned to his seat refusing to even look at me…..

*************

Back at Treeton Mine, John laid at the bottom of the mine, coughing amid the dust. A red gash on his forehead is dripping with blood. Robin leans over the edge worried as he sees John struggling hard to try and even get himself up.

"John! John! Johhhhn!" Robin kept calling out worried as Little John coughed harder before his eyes rolled to the back of his head and he collapsed against the dusty uneven ground in the mines.

"When are we gonna burn the mine? The Sheriff will be coming." Rowan snapped impatiently, obliviously to the situation with Little John, not that he cared about Little John anyways, he was to blinded by his hatred for Sir Guy of Gisborne, he was blind for his revenge and he wanted his satisfaction. Much is visibly anxious and fretting over Little John.

"We can’t until we’ve rescued John." Robin snapped at Rowan who rolled his eyes scowling. "I’m going down there."

"To do what, get stuck down there with him?" Allan questioned Robin as Allan was glad to take off the Saracen robe.

"To help him!" Robin shouted angrily and worried that the more time they spent arguing the closer Little John would be to not ever opening his eyes again.

"We broke up the ladders for firewood." Much informed panicked.

"If we can’t pull him out..." Allan began.

"He could be bleeding to death!" Robin shout out angrily, as if no one was paying any attention to the damage that may have occurred as he fell from the surface.

"Maybe he just can’t breathe properly." Will suggested trying to lighten the mood, but once he finished his sentence he knew that it probably wasn't the smartest thing to say.

" So he suffocates. Would that suit you better?" Robin asked him bitterly as Will looked down at the ground in shame. He wished he hadn't opened his big mouth before Djaq who had been listening to their quarrel came up with a good idea that could save him.

"I’ll go down there. You need someone smaller." She offered.

"You couldn’t lift him. Thank you, but—" Robin started to state before Djaq rolled her eyes and snapped back at Robin. Which took Robin slightly by surprise, he wasn't entirely used to being cut off, other than by Esme.

"I’ll help him lift himself." She interrupted. Djaq sounded very convincing as the gang looked at each unsure.

"My father was a physician. I…" But this time Djaq couldn't even finish.

"Oh, great. My father was a blacksmith. Doesn’t mean I can make a horseshoe." Allan snapped at her sarcastically as Djaq raises her arms and turns away, giving up.

"Djaq. No! Djaq, wait, please. If there is something you can do..." Robin pleaded as he stepped forward as Djaq turned round towards the group.

"I can stop the blood, bring him round." She stated simply.

"Then do it." Robin insisted and Djaq nodded.

"I need silver. Look over there. There must be some along with the iron ore." Djaq instructed as she pointed to a pile of rocks.

"Silver? He wants paying now?" Allan asked incredulously.

"Traces of silver. Not coins. And water, quickly." She stated as if Allan was stupid. She turned and started speaking in Arabic to the other prisoners as they all nodded and went off in their directions to do as she had asked them.

"Do as he says." Robin told the others as Allan growled before he went off to find traces of silver.

"Sorry, Lord. I will fast for a day and a night, just please let us get him out." Much kept pleading as he followed Allan to a rock pile. Meanwhile Djaq holds up a slender, hexagonal container with a pyramidal cap suspended from a chain round her neck.

"Silver and this, acid, together make a liquid, stop the bleeding. You don’t need to understand." Djaq explained as Robin nodded before Robin goes to get a rope.

"Fine. Save Gisborne’s mine. Save his wealth. I’m going to go and tear his heart. Let’s see him woo a dead woman." Rowan spat impatiently as Djaq is the only one who has heard him. She glances back at him as he leaves, running his way to Nottingham. Not that much further away the Sheriff, Guy and his men galloped towards the mine. Meanwhile Will is crushing a rock between two stones, utilized as a makeshift mortar and pestle.

"It’s witchcraft." Allan sneered as Djaq glances at him with contempt.

"Because we don’t know what it is?" Robin questioned as Will sifts the powder into Djaq’s container and she pours the acid into it from a glass phial and shakes it.

"We made him trust us, so we have to trust him. Just drop the second line down." Robin instructed impatiently as Djaq pulls out the phial and the container’s contents smoke and sizzle. She hands the empty phial to Will and caps the container.

"Lower me down." Djaq spoke confidently as Allan untangles another rope as Much anxiously watches the road. A board has been attached to the first rope as a seat for Djaq, who pulls it up to sit on it.

"I’m not being funny. We should have gone after Brooker. He’ll have told the Sheriff by now." Allan asked Robin worried that they wouldn't have enough time.

"Much!" Robin cried out as Much came out of his gaze. Much runs to the end of the rope where the others are gathered as Allan lets down the second rope into the hole. Behind Robin, Much loops the rope around his waist.

"Three days and three nights. Not a morsel will cross my lips. Just get us out of here." Much kept muttering towards God as Robin glanced at him snickering as they let Djaq down into the mine. When Djaq is lowered down to John. She looks at the wound on his head.

"Come on, big man. Wake up." She told him as she uncaps the container and pours the liquid on his head wound. John begins to stir.

"There you go. Here, smell this." She instructed as she held the container under Little John’s nose.

"It will help you—" She started speaking before Little John suddenly jerks awake. "That’s it." Little John gets up, spitting out dirt. Djaq holds up a loop of rope.

"Put this on. Around your foot." She told him as Little John nods and takes the loop as Djaq pats him on the back, then he looks up and sees the gang peering down at him from above.

"Pull!" Djaq shouted from inside the mine as she was now sitting on her seat once more looking up. The Saracens pull up Djaq as Little John gets the rope around his foot so the gang can pull him up. The Sheriff and company are within sight of the mine.

"Master! The Sheriff. What do we  do?" Much cried out worried as they kept pulling on the rope, pulling up  Little John to the surface.

"Come on, John!" Robin cried out as he took a quick look to see the Sheriff getting closer.

"Robin!"

"Come on, John!" He cried out once more. Djaq appears over the edge. The Sheriff and company are approaching quickly.

"Come on, John! Come on! Almost there! Pull, John, pull!" Robin cried out as Djaq crawls out as the gang give one last heave, and pull Little John free of the hole. They drop the rope and Robin helps Little John climb over the edge as the Sheriff gets closer. The Saracens scatter as Djaq and Robin pull Little John to his feet. Will and Much prepare their weapons and start walking towards the Sheriff as Djaq and Allan help Little John away. Robin strides up between Will and Much with his bow and three arrows in hand.

"Get John into cover. I’ll take care of this." He instructed as Robin stabs the arrow tips into the edge of the fire as the Sheriff gets closer. Will and Much turn and run to help Little John. Robin hops in anticipation of a fight as the Sheriff stops by the wagon and Gisborne dismounts.

"Get to the trees! Go! Run!" Much cried out as he turns and walks backwards, watching. The Sheriff looks around to gauge the situation. Two guards charge Robin, who flips one onto his back. Robin grabs a large, tall basket to defend against the second. He swings it at him, then puts it over the guard’s head and pushes him aside with his foot. Robin runs over to his arrows and grabs one.

"Where are your guards, on their refreshment break?" The Sheriff shouted angrily at Guy who growled rolling his eyes when the Sheriff wasn't looking as Robin nocks the flaming arrow in his bow, then runs to the first shaft and shoots it into the hole as two more guards come running at him. He fends them off with his bow, then blocks a sword with it, kicks back the guard and hits him with the bow. He runs to grab another arrow as flames rise from the first shaft.

"Get it out! Get the fire out!" The Sheriff started shouting out towards Guy beside him, giving Guy a slight headache. Robin shoots his arrow into the air, then stabs his bow backwards into a guard as the arrow falls into the far shaft. He stabs the guard with the end of his bow, snatches the third arrow from the fire and runs to shoot it into the new hole. He turns to the Sheriff.

"Does anyone smell burning?!" He asked facetiously smirking before he runs for the trees opposite the Sheriff, where the gang have gone before him.

"Get the fire out! Forget the outlaws! Save the mine!" The Sheriff screams from the top of his horse. Robin laughs as he reaches the edge of the trees and turns around.

"Never forget the outlaws!" He shouted out smirking making the Sheriff furious. Robin points at the Sheriff with his bow, backs into the trees and disappears. Robin joins the others among the trees, out of sight of the mine. "Where are the others?"

"Gone." Djaq informed him as he nodded.

"Hey, Rowan will be sorry he missed the blaze." Allan shrugged chuckling.

"Him? He’s gone to take revenge on his enemy." Djaq spoke with contempt making everyone else frown.

"Why? Gisborne’s here." Robin asked slightly nervous of what it is Rowan is planning to do.

"His woman. To tear his heart out by killing his woman." Djaq spat, though she didn't know how close Esme was with the group. How she was like family, and how much Robin secretly loved her.

"Gisborne hasn’t got a—" Robin started confused before his face went pale. He turned to the others frightened as Djaq could see something wasn't right as Robin remembers seeing Esme travelling in Guy's coach earlier this morning.

"Esme." Much spoke terrified, as they all started racing towards Nottingham scared, and praying they would be able to save her in time……