Discovery (Much)

[Isabella]

Isabella took a deep breath before she quietly trod down the stone steps that led to the kitchen, knowing that she shouldn't be there. Curiosity killed the cat, but she couldn't help but come here to find out exactly what was going on. She had heard noises coming from the kitchen as she passed the stairs earlier, and as it was almost midnight, wondered who or what it could be.
Her nerves were still rattled after a close encounter with the Sheriff the last time she had gone to investigate an odd noise. She only hoped that this time, the result would not be fatal. Isabella reached a hand to the great oak door of the kitchen, before pushing it open with a loud creak. She winced at the sound, her eyes searching the shadows for what lay inside the room...

[Much]

Much grimased. Someone had obviously detected the large amount of noise he had been making. He was in the castle for some "extra supplies". Him and Robin had been seperated. Robin was in search of the gold, whilst Much was in search of the food. The quality of the food at the castle was always at the top of the scale. But his knocking over of all the possible pots and pans that he could was evidently a huge mistake. As the door opened, he brandished his sword, with his shield at the ready, and awaited whoever was outside the door to enter. He expected it to be a whole force of guards, and he winced as he got ready for the worst.

[Isabella]

Isabella stared, shocked, at the strange man brandishing his sword at her, kitchen utensils scattered all around the room.
"What are you doing?" she asked, confused, "You must have knocked every single pot and pan over!"
Realising that that had been a stupid thing to say, she frowned at him sternly and asked:
"Who are you and why are you here? If you're a common thief, I can call for the guards at once, so I suggest you put your sword down and start talking!"
She was still in a complete state of bewilderment. Surely no thief could be this clumsy?

[Much]

Much gulped as he saw a woman before him. Well, at least it wasn't Guards, or Guy, or the Sheriff, or Prince John. But he did recognise her for some reason.

He was breathing heavily, and his chest was heaving up and down with each breath. He decided to co-operate. It was either that, or being hanged. He slowly lowered his sword, but his sheild still remained where it was. "I...am...not a common thief..." he began slowly, still holding his ground. He didn't know exactly how much to tell her. If he said he was a member of Robin's outlaw gang, he would be hanged for sure.

But that was when he remembered who she was. She was that woman he saw Robin with! It was a few days back, but she seemed to be getting a little too friendly towards him. Much scowled and loosed the tension he still had in his muscles. "Heey. I know who you are. You're that woman I saw Robin with the other day." Much was forever loyal to Robin, and he certainly didn't want some woman making moves on him, when he had Marian to look after. "Now lady, you see here," he said angrily, pointing an accusing finger at her, "I dont' quite know what you're intentions are with Robin, but he has a wife. So you better keep out of it." he growled. Life or death situation or not, he had to defend his best friend.

[Isabella]

Isabella was even more shocked. How did this man know about her meeting with Robin?
"You know Robin?" she asked defensively, "How?"
She stepped towards him, starting to piece things together in her mind.
"Hang on," she began, "I recognise you from somewhere. You're an outlaw, aren't you? I remember seeing you with Robin. Well, what are you doing here? I'm on your side, remember? I won't call the guards."

[Much]

Much stood his ground, wearing a defensive scowl. So she had sussed him out. She knew who he was. "Damn right you've seen me with Robin. I'm his best friend." he said aggressively. Who did this woman think she was? "And my statement still stands. Keep away from Robin...you hear?"

"You're on our side? That's what they all say. You're Guy's sister. I don't trust you." Much said bitterly. He stood in silence for a moment. He wasn't exactly letting the situation get any better. The more he angered Isabella, the more likely she would call the guards. Part of him said he should maybe take it easy on her. But the other half was still in resentment towards her. Besides, if she really liked Robin that much, she wouldn't let Much die.

[Isabella]

Isabella rolled her eyes. She had been through this before.
"My brother sold me into marriage when I was thirteen years old. He made my life a misery. He is a cruel man, and I hate what he is doing to Nottingham and its people. That's why I'm with you," she explained, "I told this to Robin, and he believes me. Just because of that, it doesn't mean that there is anything between us. I understand that you want to protect your friend, but do not come too readily to conclusions. We are on the same side. Arguing amongst ourselves will not help. And I can help you."
Isabella sighed, lowering her tone.
"What is your name?" she asked.

[Much]

Much grumbled. He still didn't fully believe her. When it came to Robin, Much knew. He had known Robin for most of his life, and for most of that time they were best friends. And there was more to Isabella than just 'a friend'.

So she didn't know who he was. Much scowled. Surely Robin must have talked about him, or even mentioned him? Much made a small unimpressed noise. "Much." he said shortly. Her story was a tragic one, but Much didn't take it to heart. He had other things to think about.

But she could help him. "So you can help me? How exactly. I'm not leaving here until I got what I came for." he said, heroicly. The truth was he had come here for food, but that didn't need to be mentioned until later. Plus, they had to find Robin, he was still around the castle somewhere.

[Isabella]

Isabella was somewhat taken aback.
"Much?" she said.
Robin had told her about Much, she remembered. He said he was a loyal friend and outlaw. There was no-one he trusted more. Having heard this about Much, Isabella was surprised that this was him. Robin hadn't mentioned his friend's hostility and stubborness.
"Of course," she began, "Robin told me about you - good things, that is. So... what did you come here for? If you need someone to distract the guards, I could do it. Or perhaps I should tidy things up? Seeing as you seem to have knocked everything over, I might be a better person to do it."
She smiled slightly at Much, still annoyed that he thought things were going on between her and Robin.
As if I don't know already that he has a wife, she thought to herself.

[Much]

Much gave off a small smile. "Maybe...that would be a good idea." he said quietly. He knew he was clumsy, and he couldn't really help it, but he tried his best to be the best he could at being an Outlaw. And he was a good Outlaw. "I'll give you a hand." he said, as he picked up a saucepan from the floor. "Are you sure some guards arn't going to come in?" he said with a frown. If one did, there would have to be a lot of explaining to do.

Perhaps he had been a little bit hard on her. Maybe she did have feeling for Robin, but when she found out he had a wife, tried to resist them. He mumbled quietly, "I'm sorry. Sometimes I just get, a little heated. You've got to ignore me sometimes," he said, smiling slightly. It was something the rest of the gang had learned to do, and he was sure Isabella would learn in due course. He just hoped and prayed she was telling the truth, and she was on their side.

[Isabella]

Isabella started picking up the debris.
"It's the same with me," she replied, glad that Much and she were working together, not against one another.
They really couldn't waste time bickering about Robin and her; they had a job to do. She was starting to see now what Robin saw in Much - he wasn't just a quick-tempered nusiance after all. If Robin trusted him, she could trust him too.
"Listen, I don't think any guards are about to come in, but if they do, is there another way out of here?" she asked, hoping that Much knew more than she did about the castle.
It would be useful to know about any other escape routes, especially if they were burst in on by the Sheriff's men. She would rather get herself and Much out of there than stay around and face the guards.

[Much]

Much picked up another saucepan. "Escape route?" he asked. He didn't really know of any escape routes around this part of the castle. He cursed. How could this be happening? "I don't really know the castle that well myself. If you want castle directions, it would be more useful to ask Allan." he smiled to himself, but it quickly faded.

"Okay." he said, as the kitched was put back to normal. "The only escape route I can think of, is the..." he stopped and grimaced to himself. "The sewerage network. But first we have to find Robin!"

[Isabella]

Isabella almost dropped the pan she was holding.
"Robin's here?" she exclaimed.
She put the pan down carefully, though her hands had started to shake. She tried to hide her hands by putting them on her hips, though she doubted that it did any good in concealing her anxiety.
"Right," she decided, "We take what you came here for - food, I presume - and go find Robin, wherever he is. Then you two can get out via the - er - sewerage network, or however you got into the castle in the first place."
Isabella wondered if Much and Robin had got in through the sewers, but it was too dark to see if Much was covered in slime, and she didn't think that she'd pick up the smell, the kitchen smelt so strongly of rotting vegetables.
"Have you any idea where Robin is?" she asked, "Because if not, we might have to split up. Then if you get caught, I can spring you out of the dungeons. If I get found wandering around alone, no-one will mind, but if they see me with you, we're both in the clink."
Isabella stopped talking in fear that she was ranting.

[Much]

Much blinked at Isabella's obvious distress. They hadn't entered through the sewerage network, they had dressed up as guards and entered. Except, they had removed their guard uniforms almost as soon as they were in the castle. In hindsight, it was a big mistake. Robin and Much had then been chased by guards, and had been seperated. Much didn't find the idea of exiting via the sewerage network very appealing. But what had to be done, had to be done.

"Ok, so we'll split up." said Much, "Or how abouts I go, and leave you to find Robin?" Much immediately dismissed the idea. He couldn't just leave Robin in the castle, when he could be looking for him. "No, okay." he said, frantically picking up various hunks of meat and bags of vegetables.

[Robin Hood]

Robin had moved stealthily along the Castle's corridors until he reached the double doors leading to the Sheriff's quarters. They weren't guarded, but that wasn't surprising as the Sheriff wasn't in residence. Robin rattled the door handle. It was locked of course. Kneeling down, he put his eye to the keyhole and grinned. There, on the table, was the Sheriff's strong box. Robin tested the strength of the doors again, but they didn't budge. He frowned. At times like these, he wished he'd asked Allan along. With his skills, they would have broken in fairly easily and made off with the Sheriff's small change.

Venting his frustration, banging his fist against the door, Robin got to his feet. Holding his sword at the ready, he wandered off down the corridor to see what else he could find.