[Outlaws; Roe] Guess Who's Back?

[Allan A'Dale]

"Good God, at last!" exalted Allan as Carter handed over the letter. Things had been threatening to subside into bickering, yet again, and he still wanted to get to the good bit where he got to find out what the King had to say. He was finding more and more lately that when he was forced to wait and be still, that he was less and less able to bear it.

[Much]

As Much felt a hand on his sholder, and when he realised it was Kate, he blushed. He smiled up and her, and then looked back down on the floor sheepishly. It was true, she had rejected him a week or so again, but Much couldn't help but feel something for her. It was almost certain she didn't feel the same way, and it was fustrating. But Much simply couldn't help it.

He awaited what Robin would say impatiently. He was still flicking through the letter, and Much could see Robin's eyes move from one side of the paper to the other with each line. Much only saw words as useless scribbles. He had never been able to read. He looked back up at the obvious ease Robin was reading in and sighed.

[Robin Hood]

Robin scanned the message, reading it a second time before he looked up. Kate was now standing next next to Much, and Robin realised that he had rudely ignored her earlier. He gave her a wink then folded up the parchment.

"The King has heard rumours of Prince John planning to overthrow William Longchamps, the Lord Chancellor, and seize the throne in Richard's absence." Robin explained, looking around the circle at everyone there present. "In the heat of the moment, he decided to send a spy assasin to England to kill John. Now that he's had time to reflect and take counsel, he's changed his mind and is sending the Archbishop of Rouen to broker peace. We have to intercept the spy and, I hate to say it, prevent the Prince's murder."

Robin pulled a face. Even though he disliked Prince John, the thought of having to save his life seemed a strange thing to do. This would need a cunning plan indeed!

[Carter]

Carter nodded solemnly along with Robin, his hand still on his hip. So now everyone knew the news. He wondered how everyone would react. As Robin subtly pulled a face, Carter quietly laughed to himself. Even someone as skilled at hiding their emotions as Robin couldn't help but express discomfort. He knew all too well that Prince John was everything the Outlaws stood against, and fighting to protect him would be strange for them. Even himself, fighting for King Richard, was against him. But there was a job to be done. It could be quick and painless, if they found the assassin quickly. Or it could take ages. And by that time, Prince John would already be dead. Carter removed his hand from his hip and leaned against one of the wooden bars holding up the camp. It made a creaking sound, which he chose to ignore.

"So, what's it going to be?" he said, addressing every one of the gang.

[Roe]

Roe continued to look down at the object he was whittling, knowing of course that Carter was looking at him and the members of Robin's gang who were gathered all around. Now that's a very interesting question, Carter. First, I'm not really part of this group of outlaws. Robin may trust me, but he hasn't seen nor heard of me in years. Even he has no idea what I've been doing or what I've been up to, or who I've worked for and with. So .... even he probably has his doubts. I know that fellow over there does," he said pointing over at Allan.

"So .... I think that you folks need to decide what to make of me before you start formulating any plans .... at least that's my opinion," and he set back to whittlin while he waited to hear what their response would be. He was was especially interested in Allan's as well as Robin's, and he thought Carter might have something to say.

[Much]

Much was started by the news. He jumped up abruptly, and gave Carter a scowl. "Hang on, let me get this straight." he said, "We have to protect Prince John? Prince John? That can't be right! Much ranted in dismay. Prince John. He was the whole reason they were outlaws. The whole reason Nottingham and England was in such a mess. He was their enemy! How could they possibly do what King Richard had proposed? He whipped around to face Robin, who shared the same look of dismay, only toned down slightly.

"I don't believe this." Much grumbled, as he sat back down on his stool.

As Roe spoke, Much was slightly startled. He had complete forgotten that Roe was actually there. He had been so caught up in his own emotions. He stared at Roe in confusion. He still couldn't remember him. "Right now, you're the least of our problems." grunted Much, so quietly that he was hardly audible.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan's stomach turned over as Robin said "spy". He already knew one person who had a 'contract' with King Richard. Could it be...?

It was highly likely, to be honest. But there'd been a lot of new arrivals in Nottingham lately, and it could feaasiby be any one of them. Until he knew more, it wasn't worth mentioning anything to the others. Not until it was certain who the assassin was. To accuse the wrong person could clue too many people into the plan. If John got wind of it, who knew what could happen?

[Kate]

Kate’s jaw actually dropped. He couldn’t be serious! The king wanted them to protect being asked to protect the man they where trying to destroy, the man who was trying to stealhis thrown. What was the world coming to!

“Are you sure it’s from the king? Perhaps it’s from some one else,” she said shaking her head refusing to believe what she was hearing. This was utterly absurd. To her it seemed a very probably explanation that the letter had been written by another. Unlike the others she had never met the king and knew very little about him so had created her own image in her head of what he was, the perfect man. Well she had obviously been wrong if he had ordered the killing of his own brother then changed his mind after the assassin was already sent. He sounded pretty unreliable to her. Kates head was pounding. Was nothing simple?

“You cant be serious we’re not actually going to go through with it, Its Prince John…”

[Robin Hood]

It seemed as though everyone was talking at once. Robin just sat back and listened. Then, once they'd got over their initial shock, they all turned to him as though he had the answers.

"I hate to admit it, but right now, England needs Prince John. King Richard is right, we have to protect him. It might not seem like the ideal situation, but can you imagine this country without a ruler? No, its better the devil you know." Robin shook his head slowly though. To be given such a mission left a nasty taste in his mouth.

"Right now, though, we need every ally we can get," He looked at Roe. Much as Robin had hero worshipped the man when they were younger, Roe was right. But there wasn't enough time to dissect whether or not he could be trusted. Robin bit his lower lip and looked hard at Roe. "You fought for Richard in the Holy Land, that must count for something. Carter wouldn't have brought you if he felt you couldn't be trusted." Robin turned to Carter, seeking his confirmation. "Right?" Turning back to Roe, a plan started to form in Robin's mind. "And you might have your uses yet. Prince John and the Sheriff don't know of our connection do they? You could be our spy in the castle." Robin nodded slowly, a plan already forming in his mind.

Pacing round the campsite as he thought, Robin stopped behind Much's stool and rested his hand on his oldest friend's shoulder as though to comfort him. "I don't believe it either, Much. But who is to say what's right and what's wrong." Robin turned to smile at Kate. She'd fitted into the group really well, it was almost as though she'd always been there. Of course, Robin could feel the tension flowing like an undercurrent between her, Much and Allan. That was something he would have to sort out after they'd saved Prince John. Robin placed the message in Kate's hands. "Its definitely from the King." He said, pointing to the writing. "Thats his hand, and his official seal."

Spinning on his heel, Robin walked to one of the logs that doubled as a bench. Settling himself, he rested his elbow on his knee and looked around at his friends and colleagues. "The only problem is that Richard didn't include the name of the spy assassin in his message." Robin told them. "Its going to be like looking for a needle in a haystack. The only clues we have is that its going to be someone recently returned or new to the area, and that they've been in the Holy Land." He smiled at the impossibility of the task ahead of them. "Only a few hundred or so to eliminate from our enquiries then!" Robin added sarcastically. He looked around the circle, into the faces of his outlaws. "You've all been around the forest and in Nottingham recently. Have you seen anything or anyone suspicious?"

[Allan A'Dale]

That was it then. The game was officially afoot. Allan grinned to himself. Having a mission turned the world into a more enjoyable place. Life was so much easier when he had a goal to direct his energies towards. For one, it tended to keep him out of trouble. For another, he didn't half enjoy having a plan to come up with, to get creative and test his skills.

Someone who'd been in the Holy Land, Robin reckoned. Well that muddied the waters a little. He didn't even know if Rosetta had ever left England, but that Morgan bloke he'd seen her with that afternoon had just come back from there, and he'd been fighting for the King.

Then again though, Morgan'd been surprised to hear that Robin was leading the outlaws...surely King Richard would have told him that if he was to be the assassin.

Robin was eyeballing the lot of them now. Allan knew he had to say something, after all, but he was damned if he was gonna bring up Rosetta's name in front of everyone, after the way Much and Kate had teased him about it the other day. He made a mental note to have a word with Robin later.

"Look, suspicious I don't know about, but there's a new ally of the King just arrived. He's been over in the Holy Land. His name's Morgan or something. Looks like he could do with a haircut. He came in this afternoon, heading into Nottingham. I thought it was worth just happening to be in the Trip when he goes for a drink, see if I can get a conversation out of him." He looked over at Carter.

"Oi, Carter, you heard of a knight called Morgan over in the Holy Land?"

[Carter]

"I'm pretty sure Roe can be trusted." said Carter, giving Roe a smile. At Robins request at Roe being a spy, Carter let out a small laugh. "That would be perfect." he said with a grin.

"Robin's right." said Carter seriously. "The message is definately from the King. He gave it to me himself." Carter couldn't help but find it quite amusing at how the rest of the gang were reacting.

Then Carter turned to Allan. "Morgan?" he racked his brains. There were so many soldiers in the Holy Land, it was difficult to remember all their names. "No, sorry I can't remember a Morgan. But I'm presuming he's a bloke, right?" Carter made himself comfortable on one of the log stools. "I didn't get much explanation from Richard, since he sent me on my way before I could really ask any questions. But I remember him saying about the assassin, 'you must stop her.'" He raised an eyebrow and looked at the rest of the gang. "So this assassin, must be female."

[Roe]

Roe thought carefully about what Robin had just said, and Carter's response to it. He could see Robin's hesitation. Roe thought that Robin really wanted to trust him, but so much was at stake, and so much time had passed, when Robin knew nothing of him, that he just couldn't. "It sounds like something reasonable, especially since I don't know any of you, except Robin, Carter, and Will. So .... if I'm found out ..... since I don't know where the camp is really .... there's very little information for me to divulge."

"You should know this, though .... I am just recently returned. I found the Scarlett's old home abandoned, so I rebuilt and re-occupied it, since I once apprenticed there. You should know that a relative of Will's, from Scarborough just moved next door. Anyway, Sir Guy came a-calling for 10 crowns of extra taxation. I paid it, but we didn't hit it off real well .... in fact .... we almost traded blows with our swords. The point is ..... he already knows me ..... but not as a knight .... but as a commoner. Its not something that I can't work around .... but just thought you should know."

Roe smirked at Carter's comment. "I'm glad you find me so believable as a bloody spy, Carter. What about the rest of you? Even though I'm not a member of the gang .... are you all comfortable with this. And Robin .... it would be useful if I had some specific instructions of what I am to do .... who I I'm supposed to spy on ... besides the Sheriff and the Prince .... and most importantly .... who I can trust ... i anybody." Suddenly Roe heard a snapping branch and sense the presence of another, as did the rest of the gang, and they all turned to its source at the edge of the camp, from where Robin had originally entered. "And just who might you be?," asked Roe as he reached instinctively for one of his swords.

[Tuck]

It had been an interesting last several hours for Tuck. He had only just been re-introduced to Sister Magdalene of the Priory a few hours before,after not seeing her for several years. They had had several talks in the garden of the Priory about why he had left the order, and how he had come to England in search of the one they called Robin Hood, not really knowing whether he was more legend than fact. What he wanted to do, he told Mags, was to help England and her people, and he had convinced himself that Robin hood was the best hope that England an her people had.

Sister Magdalene took it upon herself to contact Robin, hopimg that he would respond before Tuck would have to wander off again. Fortunately, Robin had responded, and after a long conversation, Robin moved from initial mistrust to the belief that Tuck might be able to help, as the outlaws always needed whatever assistance they could get. Tuck found that Robin's new view was cemented when he told him that he had already helped out some outlaws on the Forest Road. In any case, Robin brought him to the camp through the Forest, the last part blindfolded.

After they had entered the camp, they stopped at its edge, and Robin removed Tuck's blindfold, and instructed him to say where he was, for the moment, while Robin entered the main part of the camp. Tuck had watched the exchange of greetings, and what looked like the reading of a message of some importance. However, he found himself having to change position, to keep his legs from falling asleep, and in so doing, snapped a branch that he had stepped on. He noticed quite quickly that he had gotten everyone's attention, and he decided that he might as well identify himself. "I am Friar Tuck," hoping to be both recognizede by some of the outlaws and introduced by Robin himself.

OOC - It was felt that Tiuck needed to be forced in here. Although the ambush on the Forest Road is incomplete .... thought this was where Tuck was introduced as a friendly face and used Robin and Mags to allow him to be brouoght into the camp.

[Much]

Much thought of all the new arrivals that were female that had come recently to Nottingham. There had been so many, Much gave up quite quickly, after he had thought of just one. "Well, for one there's that Isabella Gisborne of yours." said Much, looking up at Robin, who was still situated next to him. "But, she's Guy's sister. And I don't know what she'd be doing in the Holyland, taking orders from Prince John." he quickly dismissed her as a potential assassin, and started to think again. Then it came to him, "Unless..." he began.

He didn't get a chance to finish, as a twig snapped and he quickly spun around to face the source of the noise. He saw a tall dark figure, dressed like a Friar. He squinted, and his lip curled as he tried to figure out who this man was. He contemplated taking his sword out, but since half the people in camp had already done so, he figured it would be pointless. He simply stared at the man in stunned silence. "What?" he said after a while.

[Allan A'Dale]

<I>Female.</i> Yeah, this had Rosetta's fingermarks all over it. What better place to kill John than in the honeymoon bed, where he was off his guard? He was about to say so, when a vaguely familiar face stepped into their supposedly well hidden lair. It took him a couple of seconds to place him, before he realised that it was the smart-arsed holy man from the other day. Brother Tuck. Well, he'd got his wish at last, and finally come face-to-face with Robin.

"Oh, it's you," he said, deliberately sounding unimpressed. What a time to turn up!

He was damned if he was going to spill the beans with the Friar eavesdropping. He quirked his head at Robin, trying to signal that he wanted a more private setting to talk.