- Chapter 80 -

Today was boiling! We were currently at Locksley at Guy's manor and the heat was killing me. I had ensured that today under my cloak I wore a sleeveless tunic, yet I felt like I was suffocating in the heat of the black cloak. My mask was glued to my face in sweat as I was constantly drinking the cool water from my goblet to keep my cool.

When you glanced outside the sun seemed to be rolling off the earth in waves of heat. Flies buzz over a dry riverbed of sticks and stones. In Locksley, the villagers have set up awnings to shade them from the sun, but they are all suffering from the heat. My braid glued to the back of my neck as I remained seated with a servant standing beside me to fill up my goblet as I watched Isabella, giggling, pours water from a silver pitcher into a goblet. Her hair is disheveled and damp where it sticks to her sweaty neck.

"Do you know, I don't know who's hotter, you or me." The Prince flirted as Isabella hands the goblet to Prince John.

"Oh, it's you, sire. You... are hot... hot... "She whispered sultrily as she walks behind with and dabs a cloth all around his face and leaning into his ear, showing part of her cleavage as she bends over. I glanced over at Guy as the Prince giggles, he was just as unamused as I was as he wore a simple black shirt and pants that made me lick my lips.

"If we could get back to the business in hand, sire." He coughed to gain the Prince's attention as he rolled his eyes and slouched into his chair.

"Do we have to?" He whined as I rolled my eyes at his foolish behavior.

"I think I'll leave you to it." Isabella spoke as we watched her leave.

"I need to make arrangements." Guy began.

"Now, do stop whingeing, Gisborne. I've told you, you're as good as Sheriff already. The only thing you don't have is title or power.....or the castle. But the truth is, right now, there are more pressing matters." He spoke as I scoffed at the irony in his words at Guy's behavior. Guy watched the prince in disbelief as he ate a bowl of fresh grapes before we both continued to drink from our goblets.

"Robin Hood." He muttered though it sounded more like a question than a statement.

"Now obviously, he has to hang. The only problem is the people do rather insist on adoring him still." The Prince stated as Guy rolled his eyes as this was just common knowledge.

"Well, the people are fools, sire." I gruffly announce as his face lightened up.

"Well, of course, they are. But we need their co-operation if my plans for England are to come to fruition. So... I need to woo them. Make them love me." He spoke as he makes his way over towards the window with Guy shadowing the Prince John down the middle of the room.

"Yes, sire, but how?" Guy asked him confused as he turns away from the shuttered windows. His body seemed to stiffen as he held a sour look on his face which made me narrow my eyes in his direction what could he have possibly have seen to make him so grumpy.

"By giving them what they want, of course. What they want more than anything else with this drought. Water." He explained as he saw the confusion and puzzlement on Guy's face. It grew quiet in the room once again as it became too much of an effort to chat in this heat as the Prince remains by the door. It wasn't long before Isabella opens the door and comes in smiling and wipes her lip with a finger. Her face falls when she sees all of us watching her as I noticed that the Prince was death glaring her before placing a fake smile on his face. This got me very curious.

"You'll accompany me on my trip back to the castle. We'll visit the dungeons." He sternly informed Isabella as they began to make their way back to Nottingham. I however, trailed behind them until we reached Sherwood Forest before I went searching for the gang. I checked the secret camp and they weren't there. I wanted to inform Tuck about the Prince's plan.

In the castle dungeons Prince John was having his men block a spring that supplies all the underground water sources in Nottingham. I knew the longer it was left unchallenged that every well within a ten-mile radius will be without water in this drought. This is where Prince John is supposed to start giving them water from his own personal supply to make his people love and adore him. He's hoping that they will worship him and help him to capture Robin Hood.

I spent another hour or two trying to find Robin or the gang but found no luck so I returned back to Nottingham Castle to get out of the blazing heat. As soon as I entered the castle I ordered myself water to cool myself down and take deep breaths. Once I was rehydrated I found the Prince and Guy in the great hall, as I was suspicious of what was happening as I saw the betrayed look on Guy's face.

"I told Isabella all about my plan with the water. If she is in league with Hood, I suspect she'll want to find him and tell him all about it and when she does, you'll be there because you'll be following them." He informed as I raised my head realizing the situation now as Guy gulped unevenly.

"And then?" He asked.

"What do you expect? They're traitors. Execute them." The Prince informed getting frustrated as he slowly began to circle behind Guy.

"Both of them?" Guy asked him unsure.

"Gisborne, I have great plans for you. I do hope you're not suffering from any pathetic pangs of familial loyalty." The Prince toiled with him as Guy's back straightened yet stiffened at the same time.

"None at all. My loyalty to you is absolute. Whatever the outcome, it shall be my hand that resolves it for you..... and I promise you—" He spoke.

"Yes, bored now. Leave, please." He instructed after interrupting him as Guy bows and leaves and brushes past my shoulder as he leaves. I turn to the Prince as he seemed in deep thought before smirking and skipping out towards the courtyard and began to throw orders all over the place as I rolled my eyes at the slight chaos he was making.

It wasn't long before everything was ready and I was following after the Prince to Locksley. Prince John enters on a white horse with guards following. The people gather round him. A wagon rumbles in carrying two barrels with the royal crest painted on them.

"Good morning!" He called out to the villagers as he dismounts and goes to the centre of the village.

"Good morning to you all, my, er... my children. You know, I know you've been suffering, and when you hurt, I hurt, which is why I am here now...to dispense succour... quench your thirst... and to give you the gift of life itself through water. Water for every—" He began as he pointed towards the barrels before he paused as I gulped seeing what it was that made him pause. Another barrel lid with the royal crest in front of him, opened and obviously has had water drunken from it. His face falls and he points at the stolen barrel.

"Where did you get that? Huh?" He questioned as he walked closer towards the villagers who remained silent. Prince John approaches a man and the man shies away. Prince John holds his hand up.

"Ah-ah-ah. There's no need to be scared, as long as you tell the truth. You see, this water... is mine. So... where did you get it?" Prince John smiles and chuckles before he puts a hand on the man's shoulder as though to seem as if he were a friend to the villagers.

"Hood, sire." A villager spoke as I closed my eyes realizing his stupidity as Prince John freezes a moment.

"Of course. Hood. Men, give this man a drink." The Prince ordered struggling to keep hold of his temper as I saw the villagers grow confused by his statement.

"Come here." The guard called as I watched the two guards grab the man, one kicking him in the stomach, and then they put his head in the barrel and hold it under water. A villager goes to step forward only to stop when Prince John draws his sword.

"Ah-ah-ah-ah. I really wouldn't." He spoke in a teasing voice as the man stepped back into the crowd.

"You've seen already how your treachery pays! You like my water so much, from now on you pay for it! A penny a gallon." He declared as I gasped at him in shock. They wouldn't be able to afford that! He was sentencing them to death!

"But sire, we don't have that sort of money." One of the villagers called out desperately as I recognized the voice. I turned and saw Eleanor holding her baby boy in her arms as he cried out, probably dehydrated and tired from the heat like we all were.

"Well, sell something. Some grain, a cow, a grandparent, I don't care." The Prince spat as he turns and walks off.

"My baby needs water to live, sire." Eleanor pleaded as I felt my heart ache at her pain and desperation for her child.

"Yes. On that we both agree. If you won't love me, then by God you'll fear me!" He warned as I watched as Jack steps behind his wife and puts his hand on her shoulder whilst Prince John mounts his horse. I saw Prince John nod at the guards at the barrel as they dump it and the man falls out, dead. As we rode away to leave I turned to look over my shoulder to see the gang escaping from a hiding spot.

I watched as Eleanor tries to comfort her crying baby before I curse to myself and turn back in their direction. The people must have thought I meant them harm as they gave out panicked cries as I drew nearer. I watched the Gang in front of me draw their weapons to prepare to fight me as I slow down my horse to a standstill and quickly dismount. Holding up my hands in surrender I slowly try to ease forward as Much waves his sword.

"Easy Much!" I call out making him uneasy.

"How do you know my name?" He exclaimed slightly scared as I rolled my eyes.

"What can we do for you Wolf?" Tuck asked as I saw that his familiarity with me shocked the remaining members of the gang.

"You know him?" Little John asked disgusted as I saw shock flood the rest of their faces.

"What!" Much exclaimed as I very slowly reached for my sword at my waist and untied it from my belt. They all watched me as I dropped it to the floor and grabbed hold of my water skin that I had filled before leaving the castle. Slowly raising my hands again I turned and walked towards Eleanor and her husband, keeping an eye on the gang from the corner of my eye.

"Take it and help him" I whisper gently to her as she slowly takes my water skin from me, her hands shaking as she continued to the try and comfort her son.

"Thank you...why would you help me?" She asked with a shaky voice as I couldn't resist but gently caress the little boys cheek as he coed and snuggled into his mother.

"JOHN NO!"