- Chapter 60 -

When Robin and I made it back to the camp Much and Little John must have been practising, because Much has his sword out and Little John is holding his staff defensively upright. Much notices us returning, smiles and taps his sword against Little John’s buttocks making me chuckle. Little John puts his staff away as I take the bow and quiver from Robin.

"Much, when we were in the Holy Land, do you remember anybody called Lardner?" Robin asked him as I hand off the bows and quiver to Little John, then takes off my cloak.

"No. Why?" He replied confused with where the conversation was heading.

"Because I have to find him." Robin sighs. Briefly glancing around the camp I noticed that Will and Djaq were missing causing me to frown and raise an eyebrow. I noticed that Robin began looking through the rings they had collected maybe for a clue before I noticed Djaq running towards us puffing without Will.

"Robin?" She called out as Robin hastily puts away the sack and turns to Djaq.

"What’s happened?" He asked.

"It’s Gisborne. He’s at Locksley, terrorising the people." She spoke as we gathered round frowning. Why would Guy do that?

"He’s searching for Lardner’s ring." She added as Robin and I look at each other, amazed and concerned. We sat down and listened to Djaq’s story as Robin and I sit on a short ladder used as steps. Robin has his chin in his hand. Much sits on a protruding root, holding a spoon. Little John stands next to him.

"Back home, my uncle had a friend, the Sultan’s official pigeon handler. Now, the Sultan’s very best pigeon, the smallest and quickest one, was a pigeon called Lar’d-nar." Djaq adds as I immediately see the connection.

"Right. Right, does he have a ring? And if he does, what’s so special about it?" I ask as I see the men suddenly grab hold of where this was going. We continued to listen to Djaq as she began telling us about how the pigeons worked.

"But it isn't their home they’re searching for, it is their mate. All you have to do is split the two of them up, and a pigeon will carry a message to the ends of the earth faster and straighter Robin nods, understanding the implication. than any man ever could, just to be with the one they love." Djaq adds with a smile as I was about to say something, but Robin speaks first.

"So we could get a message to King Richard halfway across the world in... in no time at all." Robin smiled brightly.

"A matter of days. My question is, why is the Sultan’s best pigeon being used by King Richard?" Djaq added as I felt sorry for her as I could see both her excitement and her distress with the situation. I could see in her eyes how Djaq fears for her family and friends.

"We have to go back to the tree." I whisper to Robin as he nods as we head our way back into the forest. McLellan would have hidden the birds in the tree to prevent them from being taken by Guy's men. It was our best chance. It didn't take us as long as I thought as we stopped at the base of the tree looking up into its branches as Robin begins to unwound the sheaf of rope slung over his shoulder.

I stood guard at the bottom as Robin, looped his bow over his shoulder and pulls himself up the tree by the rope, bracing his feet on the trunk. He reaches the first big branch and gets a foothold. I stand at the base of the tree, looking up at him, my bow and arrows leaning against it as Robin climbs further to the next conjunction of branches.

"Can you see it?" I call up.

"That’s it, I think." He answered as I watched him climb higher.

"Well... can you reach it?" I ask.

"I’m nearly there!" Just as the words reached me I heard a horse whinny and look to my left to see the Sheriff and his party coming.

"Robin! Robin, the Sheriff’s coming!" I exclaim loud enough for him to hear me as I put my bow over my head and tuck my arrows under the bowstring against me as the horsemen approach.

"And Gisborne’s with him!" I gulp as unbeknownst to Robin, I climb up the rope quickly getting out of sight from the men below.

"Hang on. Stop. Yeah. That’s the tree." I could hear Allan instruct as I gulp. Robin hadn't taken sight of me being next to him as he aims his bow waiting for the archer to stop, then shoots him in the shoulder. The archer falls from his horse as Robin quickly shoots at another man, who ducks the arrow. Guy, Allan and the archers move to surround the tree as the Sheriff yells up to Robin.

"You’re surrounded, Hood! You’re going nowhere!" The Sheriff shouted with triumph as I heard Guy order one of his men to get reinforcements. When Robin glanced beside me he sighed shaking his head as I bit my lip to prevent myself from laughing.

"What are you doing here?"

"Hiding?" I sheepishly answer as he rolls his eyes.We watched as the Sheriff and Guy peer up into the tree, but luckily Robin and I are too high up to be seen and well hidden behind the leaves. Robin has taken off his quiver and set it next to Lardner’s cage where he can grab the arrows easily. He has an arrow nocked and is pointing his bow at the ground.

"Esme, they don’t know you’re up here. If I make a run for it, they'll follow me and you can escape with Lardner." Robin informed me as a possible plan as I glance back down.

"They’re coming back." I told him alarmed as two soldiers advance towards the tree, holding their shields over their heads. Allan is crouched down behind them, holding a broadaxe. Robin draws, waiting for a shot. As I aim my bow, Robin shoots the first soldier in the foot, forcing him to step back and drop his shield. The Sheriff and Gisborne exchange glances. The first soldier ducks behind the second. I shoot at the foot of the second, but narrowly miss.

I noticed that Allan peers around the soldiers and up into the tree, reaching out with the axe. Robin draws as I nock another arrow, then shoots, knocking the broadaxe out of Allan’s hand. Allan ducks behind the soldiers again. Robin aims and shoots again and the arrow bounces off the shield.

"That is a complete waste of arrows." I hiss.

"I’m just giving Allan something to think about." Robin told me with his eyes fixed on Allan furiously as I growl at his reckless behaviour.

"Think about us running out of arrows!" I hissed annoyed with his stupidity.

"Look, look! They’re retreating." Robin whispered happily as we watched as Allan and the soldiers walk backwards, then Allan ducks behind a tree, dashes behind another next to it and looks a bit fearfully at Gisborne. I noticed both Guy and the Sheriff chatting as I saw the Sheriff give an annoyed look before he canters off on his horse. Watch him go I smiled brightly as I felt an idea came to mind.

"Maybe you could use me as a hostage." I quickly suggested at the sight of the Sheriff leaving on his horse as Robin looked at me in disbelief and also as though I had just grown three heads as I rolled my eyes at his stupid behavior. I'm trying to get us both out of here ALIVE!

"What?" He hissed as I chuckled.

"Well, you know Gisborne’s feelings for me. He will let you go if he thought it meant getting me back." I empathized as he growled shaking his head once again as though he wouldn't even consider my idea. It was a very good idea!

"Are you mad?" He chuckled rolling his head as I playfully yet forcefully hit his arm as he glared and rubbed his forearm.

"I could say I was on my way home to him and... and you ambushed me in the forest." I informed as he chuckled.

"He'll never fall for it. And how would that look, “Robin Hood takes Lady Esme hostage”?" He stated as I blushed slightly guiltily as I remembered having snuck off to give Allan a letter to give to Guy wishing him a Happy Birthday.

"Promise me it will.....I even sent him a birthday letter earlier this morning." I informed slowly as I saw his face fall slightly and yet find it slightly amusing as we both glanced back down once more to see if they were coming closer.

"You're just full of surprises.....Even if Gisborne fell for it, the Sheriff wouldn't." Robin stated sarcastically as I shifted my weight on the branch slightly.

"The Sheriff ’s gone. While Gisborne’s in charge... Look, Robin, this could be our last chance." I stated, I knew taking hold of this scenario and the advantage of the Sheriff being missing was probably our only chance.

"No! It’s not happening!" Robin snapped interrupting me as I growled.

"Robin, have you got a better idea?" I hissed back sick of being patient with Robin as I could tell that Robin was flustered because he hasn't a different plan to get us both out alive and not resulting to me returning to the castle. Neither of us spoke for a while as we just watched as I could see Robin trying to figure out some sort of plan as we glanced down to see the reinforcements arrive from the castle and encircle the tree. I groaned slightly as I could hear Guy shouting out orders to his men as I gulped slightly nervous as two men holding shields over their heads got into position and ready to move closer towards the tree.

"It’s just a matter of time now, Hood. Start saying your prayers." Guy chanted up to Robin as I bit my lip nervous.

"If they come any nearer, they'll get the same and I won’t be aiming at their feet!" Robin tormented back as he took my arrows as I sighed shaking my head.

"It’s not enough." I whispered as he smirked.

"Well, they don’t know that, do they?" He teased as I growled louder and went back to watching as Allan, behind the soldiers in two lines of five shields each; start to shuffle towards the tree.

"I'll scream. Then I can say you were holding me hostage." I tried once again as Robin glared at me, almost like a sign to give up about my idea. Though I was determined, and to be frank I don't think returning back to the castle would be that bad. I won't deny I missed Guy and I knew I would be protected under his care.

"You didn't scream earlier. He’s not stupid. I'll deal with this, Esme." He growled like a demanding father as I rolled my eyes once more. Meanwhile below we can see the shields advancing. It'll take them hours to cut down this tree for sure and I knew by then the gang would realize something’s wrong and come to find us. I repeated this statement in my head for comfort though I had a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach unsure as Allan and one shield-bearers step forward to the tree and stop.

Robin and I strain to see what it is that Allan will do. I mean I can't hear the sound of an axe, so what are they waiting for? I angled my head once more to see Allan set down a bucket and splashes a black liquid onto the tree with a bowl. Robin beside me sighs and hangs his head in utter dismay as I frown and turn to him.

"You know what that is, don’t you?" I asked slowly and rather nervous. I wasn't totally sure I wanted to know.

"It’s pitch. It burns hot and it burns fast." Robin spoke as I grumbled. Perfect! I slammed my fist against the branch as I watched Allan retreat to the others under the cover of the shield. Once back into position, the shield wall retreats. We watched as Guy takes a bow from a man behind him. I noticed that Allan stands unhappily next to him holding a lit torch and a raised shield.

"I hope you’re ready, Hood! You tried to cover me in pitch once, and I don’t see a trough of water for you to jump into." Guy tormented Robin once more as I gasped when I turned to see Robin nocking one of my arrows in Guy's direction. I watched miserably, thinking through the flaws in my original plan, having made up my mind to return to my position as spy in the castle.

"If I were bound and gagged, I couldn't scream. So all we have to do—" I began only to be cut off.

"No!"

"There’s no other way! Trust me Robin!" I begged. I glanced nervously back at Guy to see him dipping the tip of an arrow into the bucket of pitch, before lighting it with the torch.

"Trust me" I hissed as Robin hesitates at first before sighing deeply and lowering his bow slightly causing me to smile with hope and breathe out a sigh of relief.

"Now quickly tie me up." I instructed as he did as I told him. I winced slightly at the tight ropes, but I was doing this for Robin. He had to get away and he had to get message to the King and me......well I would be lying if I said I didn't want to have Guy's company again. As Robin lowered me I groaned at the strain of the ropes as I felt rather uncomfortable with the gag in my mouth however it was all part of the plan. When I came into view I connected my eyes with Guy's as I could see his fear and heartbreak at the sign of my discomfort as I struggled and winced against the ropes that burnt into my skin.

"Gisborne! If I die, Esme dies!"