- Chapter 56 -

It was early in the morning in Nottingham as the Sheriff, Allan and Gisborne stand by the sewer dump. A servant comes and pours rubbish down the opening.

"Robin’s favourite, this one. Leads from outside straight into the castle." Allan informed then as he traced the outside of the door with his finger.

"You know, a simple iron grille in there would fix that." Allan suggested as the Sheriff smirked inwardly slightly knowing he now had the upper hand on Robin Hood. Clicking his fingers a guard appeared beside him as he pointed towards the door.

"Bars on there." He instructed before Turing to Gisborne.

"Upgrade this young man to leather. He’s a hero. That idea is almost as good as emptying the strong room." He smirked as he pats Allan’s shoulder and chuckles before he turned to leave. Allan glanced at Guy as he was looking like a son to a father for a sign of him being proud as Gisborne gave him a simple nod and an evil smirk before turning and following after the Sheriff. Allan smirked to himself and was about to follow when Esme closes the door in front of him, pulling her curved jewelled knife from her hair and pointing it at him as his eyes widened.

"What are you doing?" She quietly and sternly growled as he held up his hands in surrender, his eyes never leaving the knife which was being held under his chin. He had always liked Esme and he knew that is anyone was going to understand him it would be her, though he also knew she would deliver on her threats.

"What? I’m not doing anything." He denied.

"You’re giving away all Robin’s secrets. You advised the Sheriff about the strong room." She hissed bitterly as Allan gulped at the fiery look in her eye.

"Look, I’m fighting for my life here, Esme." He whispered with a small plead as Esme holds her knife to Allan’s throat.

"Yes, you are. Stop now or I swear I will kill you." She threatened before the door opens suddenly behind them and Esme quickly hides the knife at her hip. She and Allan both step away from each other as Gisborne glances between them suspiciously, mainly towards Allan than Esme.

"Something wrong?" He asked Esme with a softer tone before he glared darkly at Allan.

"No."

"No." The both answered casually which made Gisborne relax slightly as he watched the two slightly.

"Just, er, meeting the locals." Allan smirked slightly as Gisborne looked back at Allan before pointing towards the door.

"In!" He growled as Allan did as he was told like a puppy with his tail between his legs. Gisborne softened his gaze offering Esme his arm as she smiled with a slight blush before accepting it as they made their way back into the castle.

"The Sheriff will be having a surprise in the courtyard in an hour or two. He would like everyone to be there" He informed her as she raised her eyebrow at him curious. The Sheriff? A surprise? Now this she had to see, and she guessed it would result around something the Sheriff did with the money that had once lived in the strong room.

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

It was mid afternoon as I made my way down towards the courtyard for the Sheriff's surprise. A crowd formed in the lower levels of the courtyard as I noticed Robin and the gang hidden in the crowd as I made my way down the steps to reach him. A fanfare plays and the Sheriff steps out of the main doors with his arms outstretched with Allan and Guy standing behind him on either side.

"People! My dear people. We are gathered here today to witness the unveiling of my marvellous birdcage!" The Sheriff announced as I made my way over towards Robin as I casually stood beside him and watched as a guard pulls off the banner. The crowd “ooh” and “ah” as the Sheriff claps and laughs to the sight of a birdcage filled with sacks of money and small trunks.

"What are you doing?" I whisper not looking at him.

"We’re trying to find the pact." He responded as we watched as several guards lower the birdcage.

"Nottingham’s exchequer. Our community chest. There for all to see, demonstrating once again my commitment to open government. Hmm? And this... this latest addition to our fund, I have been reliably informed, has come from the coffers of Robin Hood himself!" The Sheriff added as the crowd “oh” as Sheriff laughs and claps. I watch as two guards begin to place sacks of coins into the birdcage as I heard Robin huff in annoyance.

"There goes our money." Much complains as I slowly look up at the battlements where a line of archers have their weapons drawn.

"Archers all around. Clever." Will added as we watched as the birdcage is once again raised.

"I you happen to see Robin Hood, and he asks you, “Have you seen my money?” you can say to him, “The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind!” The Sheriff jokes loudly as the crowd laugh as the cage stops over the Sheriff ’s head.

"It was Allan’s idea. He’s informed the Sheriff of all the ways in and out of the castle." I whispered to him informing of how Allan had become the Sheriff and Guy's own spy against Robin.

"They’re sealing off the exits. You have to get out now" I warned as Robin glanced at me looking slightly scared.

"But what if Allan tells them about you?" He worries as I shake my head with a small smirk, I had already thought of that. One step ahead of you Robin.

"He won’t. I've silenced him." I promise as I watch Robin bites his lip as he absorbs all I have told him.

"Stop! That’s my money!" A man shouted as I turned around shocked to see a man standing at the top of the tower with a bow and arrow pointed towards the Sheriff. The crowd murmur and look up.

"What’s that man doing?" I question as I place my hand over my eyes to shield them from the glare of the sun.

"I want my bride!" He shouts out again.

"Is he mad?"

"Yes. He’s in love." Robin chuckles beside me as I shake my head.

"I've settled the debt and you've got your money. You’re the thieves! You and the canon! Not Robin Hood!" He yells as I watch as he draws the arrow’s tip past the bow and it flips harmlessly out of the string to the ground. Robin sighs as the crowd laugh as I shake my head at his own foolishness.

"Guards! Hang him!" The Sheriff ordered as I saw his face drop. The guards scramble upstairs as the Sheriff heads into the east corridor.

"Come on, John." Robin spoke beside me as I watch as Robin and John run to grab the fallen banner. Soon the gang run to the base of the tower, each grabbing for a corner of the banner.

"John! Jump! Jump!" Robin shouted as I saw he was hesitant, even I wasn't so sure that Robin's idea was a good one. But when I saw more archers head towards him from the other side I knew he had no other choice.

"Now!" Much cried out as I watched as he jumped down. A woman's scream cried out as he fell into the banner safely letting me sigh with relief.

"Run!" I watched as the gang ran out of the castle gates with the guards in pursuit. Just an average day in Nottingham. Chuckling I noticed Guy marching angrily towards the main gate of the castle with Allan in tow as I weaved my way through the crowd and followed after them at a safe distance. Taking a separate corridor I hid behind the ornate partition where I could just see the Sheriff waiting for them. I kept my breathing slow and quiet as I didn't need to give them any reason to notice I was listening in.

"They got away." Guy growled as I saw the Sheriff beginning to silently fume.

Surprise, huh? Not. Hood always gets away and I’m getting rather tired of it!" He roared in Guy's face as Guy closed his eyes but didn't flinch as I watched the Sheriff look at Allan.

"This time, we go to him." The Sheriff spats as he walks past Allan, who turns around.

"Look, like I said to Giz, I..." Allan began as I frowned and struggled to not laugh as I glance at Guy whose hands curled into a fist as I saw he didn't like his nickname either.

"... I can’t tell you where Robin lives." Allan finished as I saw both Guy and the Sheriff turn to him and began to corner him as I saw him gulp slightly as they advanced slowly as though they were assessing their prey.

"Whose side are you on, Allan?" The Sheriff growled.

"Well, even if I did tell you, he might've moved on." I saw Allan cover up with a swallow as I hesitated for a small second, maybe Allan wouldn't betray them. Maybe he still cared.

"Well, we'll find out, won’t we? I want him dead." The Sheriff hissed.

"Yeah, but if he hasn't moved on, he'll have set all sorts of traps up. Just be too dangerous." Allan again tried to defend as I smirked slightly. He is good thinking on his feet, I will give him that.

"Yes, well, don’t you worry about that, eh, dear boy? We'll send you in first." The Sheriff smirked darkly patting Allan's shoulder as I saw his face pale slightly as I watched the Sheriff turn to leave. I continued to watch as Guy pushes Allan forward as I hurry off in the opposite direction towards the dungeons. They had blocked every entrance that I knew that lead in and out of the castle, maybe he knew of another way out of this prison.

Running down the steps I saw that the Jailer is making his rounds, walking between the steps and Edward’s cell. I slow my pace as he glances at me acknowledging my presences with a nod as I slowly make my way to my father's cell as I hold the bars.

"Esme!" My father called out slightly surprised to see me as I rushed over towards him.

"Father." I about to start my conversation when he gave me a warning look.

"Sh-sh-sh." He whispered as I watched from the corner of my eye the Jailer walk past us and then soon out of earshot before I then turned my focus back to my father.

"Father, Robin is in trouble. Allan is leading Gisborne to the camp. I need to find a way to get out of the castle and warn him, but the Sheriff has blocked every exit. I don’t know what to do." I whispered as I knew that if anyone knew how to escape it would be him. Though his solemn facial expression made me frown.

"Esme, you want to end up in a cell like me?" He asked me emotionlessly as I looked at surprised by his sudden change in attitude.

"No. But I must warn Robin." I responded cautiously.

"Is he worthy of all these risks you take for him?" He asked me cautiously as I frowned at him. Earlier he had been so willing to help Robin and I as we fought for King Richard. What has gotten into him?

"Yes he's family! He's practically my brother!" I snap my voice getting louder as I snarl and lower it before I get us both into serious trouble. How could he not think of Robin as his own son!

"He can’t change anything." He informed as I shook my head.

"Yes, he can. He is going to get the traitor’s pact and show it to the King. The Sheriff ’s days are numbered." I defended as I knew that my father was stubborn.

"And does Robin know where it is? This pact?" He questioned as I felt myself hesitate and pause.

"No.... But he'll find it." I told him both truthfully and hopefully. Robin would find it!

"The pair of you... you’re dreamers!" He insulted as I went wide eyed and gasped.

"Dreamers?! Because we are not weak like you?" I growl offended as I saw the hurt in his eyes.

"How dare you!"

"You caused all this! You allowed the Sheriff to walk in and take your job and you stood there and did nothing." I spat as I remembered how my father did nothing. He should still be Sheriff if he grew a backbone and didn't let others just walk all over him!

"That is not true."

"And you condemn Rob—You should be helping us. I don’t have time for this." I hiss as I take a deep breath to control my temper. Jerking the bar angrily I turn to leave before I say something that I regret before my father reaches through and grabs the back of my head, holding me and turning me back towards him.

"Esme!" My father warns as I shake my head at him refusing to listen.

"I’m ashamed of you sometimes." I sadly speak as I glance at him once more in the jail call before I turn to leave. My father tried to hold me back but I refuse to look at him as I make my way towards the steps leading out of the dungeons.

"Esme —" I heard my father cry out after me as I shook my head ashamed and furious. How could he say those things about Robin? What on earth has gotten into him? Reaching the top of the stairs I place my hands on my hips and bit my lower lip as I struggle to wonder what to do next. I have to get out the castle. Scratching the back of my head I notice my hair in a ponytail as I frown slightly. I am sure I had it in a bun this morning with my dagger holding it. Maybe I used a hair pin and it fell out. Shrugging my shoulders I made my way towards the courtyard thinking of a plan as I went.