Discovery (Much)

[Isabella]

"Come on then," Isabella said breathlessly to Much, attempting to help him with the food he was picking up.
She couldn't have been much use, she realised, looking down again at her shaking hands. The thought of Robin had set her nervousness off, and now she was fighting just to control herself.
Isabella, she said internally, Your heart is your own and it is ruled solely by your head.
It calmed her down a little, but anxiety was still gnawing away at her stomach like a worm.
"Alright, we'll split up and look for Robin," she said decisively, once she judged that Much was ready to go.

[Much]

"Right." Much replied shortly. He stumbled out of the Kitchen, and poked his head around the door. There was one guard in sight, and he had his back to the two of them. Much sped out of the door, his shield clanging against his chest noisily. He clutched it, attempting to quiet it down, but it was too late, and the guard span around and charged towards him. With silent professionality, Much gave the Guard a firm roundhouse punch, and a bash with his shield, sending him slumping to the ground conveniently. Without any further ado, he tiptoed down the corridor, in the direction of the Strongroom. All prized possessions where stored there, and Much thought it would be the first place Robin would look.

[Isabella]

Isabella went in the opposite direction to Much, sneaking as silently as she could down the shadowy corridors of the castle. She was a little surprised at Much's discretion as she heard a muffled cry from behind her when he knocked a guard to the ground - after all, this was the man who had just crashed into every pot and pan in the kitchens. However, she merely smiled a little to herself and hurried on her way.
She wondered where Robin would be, and thought he might try the Sheriff’s chamber – or maybe her brother’s. Either way, they were on the same level, and that level was above her. Isabella darted as quietly as she could up one of the winding spiral staircases, nearly tripping over the steep steps in her haste. She could only hope that no-one else was around at this unholy hour – but the echoing sound of footsteps came from above her, on the very corridor where she was headed. Taking a deep breath, she continued up the staircase, hoping that it was Robin who awaited her, and not anybody else.

[Robin Hood]

The sound of light footsteps echoed up the staircase and Robin froze for a moment. Then glancing over his shoulder, he saw a shadowy alcove that would serve as a suitable hiding place. Stepping backwards, he blended in with the shadows and waited to see who was coming. Robin still held his sword in a defensive position. Maybe, just maybe, it was Gisborne.

Robin's shoulders slumped. It was a Gisborne, but the wrong one. Lowering his sword, he stepped forwards into the flickering torchlight. Holding one arm across his chest, Robin bowed although he kept his eyes on Isabella. "My Lady." He said, softly, an amused tilt to his voice. "You should be careful wandering these corridors. I hear there are outlaws about."

[Much]

By this time Much had already reached the Strongroom. But to his dismay, it was clear nothing had been tampered with or stolen. "Damn it." he swore quietly, as he scratched his head. He straightened back up, and stood still for a few moments in thought. The castle was a huge place, it would be difficult to find Robin. He frowned, where else would Robin want to go? The Sheriffs room. Much couldn't help but shudder. That was the last place he would wanted to look.

Much gritted his teeth and stealthily ran forewards, in the direction of the Sheriff's room.

[Isabella]

Isabella sighed with relief that she had found what she was looking for.
"Of course there are outlaws around, but I'm fortunate you're here to protect me from them," she replied with mock gratitude.
She stopped herself from saying any more. She could not be seen with Robin, and besides, he and Much had to get out of the castle as soon as they could.
"Robin, Much is here," she whispered urgently, "I found him in the kitchens. He said you were separated earlier, and that he needed to find you again. We split up so we could cover more ground. Come on, we've got to get to Much so you can escape."
Isabella turned as if to go down the corridor. The one thing on her mind was: find Much.

[Robin Hood]

Robin gave Isabella a quizzical look. "Why should Much and me need to escape?" He asked, holding his hands out and looking up and down the corridor. "No one's raised the alarm yet so why should we hurry? Unless you're hiding something, my Lady?" He took a step closer to Isabella and looked down into her face. "Why would I want to rush off when I'm in such engaging company?" he flirted.

[Isabella]

Isabella could not help but smile at Robin. One moment, he was focused and hard-edged, and the next, he was flattering and flirtatious. He was so... just so Robin.
"You're an outlaw, Robin," she reminded him, "I thought you were always in a hurry. Though I suppose I should know better, knowing you."
She returned his gaze, her face bent up to him.
"I have nothing to hide - well, not from you, anyway," she went on, "Are you feeling paranoid or do I just bring out your protective side?"
She checked herself, and stared down at her shoes.
He's married now, she thought, He has a wife...
"I'm sorry," she said formally, "It's just... Well, you know what people say about us, and..."
Isabella found the courage to look up at him again.

[Much]

Much sped up the corridor, a panic stricken look upon his face. Where the hell was Robin? He must have looked just about everywhere, and he was sure he had knocked out near to a dozen guards by now. He frowned and stopped in the middle of a corridor. He was sure he had been here before. Damn. He was going round in circles. Much grumbled quietly to himself, and absentmendenly went down a flight of steps, not really feeling in the mood to care anymore. Robin could look after himself.

He would have to make his way back to the kitchen, and pick up a few more supplies before he left via...he shuddered...the toilet pipes. But that was when he saw him. "Robin!" Much yelled loudly, almost tripping over himself in an attempt to reach him. But as he got closer, he saw Isabella was with him. Much narrowed his eyes. They looked a little too cosy for his liking.

As soon as Much reached them, he skidded to a halt, and cleared his throat loudly. He looked blankly at both of them, trying to look as though he didn't care.

[Robin Hood]

Robin took a step backwards from Isabella. She was right. He should know better than to flirt. He loved Marian honestly, truthfully and forever. "I'm sorry, my Lady." Robin said enticingly, incling his head to one side as he returned her gaze. "It was wrong of me to put your honour in question. Forgive me."

It sounded as though a herd of horses were charging down the corridor towards them. Robin turned, his sword at the ready, but he lowered it when he realised it was only Much. "Where's the fire, Much?" he asked.

[Isabella]

Isabella felt tears prick her eyes, as if someone was poking her with a dozen tiny needles at once. She knew that Robin was right to leave her. But that still didn’t make it what she wanted.
When Guy had told her she was to be married to Thornton, she flew angrily at him, sobbing and hitting him with all the strength she could muster. He did not move, but stood silently with the patience of one who knows he is right until she finished, and collapsed into his arms.
“Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same,” he whispered.
That was the only reason she went through with the marriage then, and it was the only reason she wasn’t crying her heart out now. She took a deep breath to compose herself, before turning to see Much clattering down the corridor.
“Stealth isn’t really your strong point, is it?” she remarked.
She bit her lip, realising how rude it was.
Much is a loyal, good man, she told herself, How can you insult him like that?
“Sorry,” she said ashamedly, hanging her head.

[Much]

Much continued to stand still, avoiding eye contact with both of them. He tried to ignore both of their spiteful comments, and simply sniffed in disapproval. He shuffled back a few steps uncomfortably, and looked down at the ground. He hoisted his sword and shield which was slung over his shoulder up slightly, and tightened his grip on the variety of food he was clutching.

He was upsett and hurt. Firstly, because the two of them looked to be getting a little bit chummy. Much never liked seeing Robin got comfortable with women. Everytime he did, it felt like another piece of Robin was being taken away from him. It also reminded him how pathetic he was around women, and how much Robin was his superior. His lip trembled as he thought about it.

And Isabella's comment didn't help either. He didn't even like her anyway. Much grunted angrily at Isabella's feeble apoligy, and after that remained silent, trying to stop himself screaming at them both in frustration.

[Isabella]

Isabella’s head was pounding. She hated Much for being so angry at her. She hated Robin for leaving her. She hated herself for being so pathetic. Why did this all have to come crashing in on her? What did she do to deserve this? Then it came to her:
Leave my husband, lie constantly to the man who will one day be king, persist in hating my brother, try to steal another woman’s husband and insult a man for doing nothing but good.
She felt guilty and worthless as she realised the extent of her crimes. Her head ached and she just wanted to leave, to lock herself in her room and never come out of it. She could have done so then – just stormed out and left Robin and Much to take care of themselves. They were outlaws, they would manage. But that would be wrong, and Isabella knew that that would be adding to her sins.
“Much says he knows a way out,” she said flatly, staring at the ground, “So if you’ve got what you were looking for I suggest you leave before anyone finds out you’re here.”

[Robin Hood]

Robin stared at Much. He couldn't believe how rude his friend was being. He couldn't help but think that sometimes Much took too much for granted. Robin had been about to tell him to apologise to Isabella when an alarm bell started tolling in another part of the castle. He rolled his eyes and gritted his teeth. Seems like they'd been discovered after all.

"Well it looks like we're going to have to use that way out now. Come on Much, you lead the way." Robin gave a terse smile. He bowed over Isabella's hand, brushing her knuckles with his lips. "Until next time, my Lady." He added, with a twinkle in his eye. Stepping back and turning, Robin looked at Much's bag and grinned at his friend. "Looks like you've been busy. But I suggest we get a move on." The sound of many guards approaching their position made Robin's adrenalin race and, together, he and Much beat a hasty retreat. (scuse pose)

[Isabella]

Isabella felt a twinge of something when Robin kissed her hand, but she didn’t know quite what. She was still so angry at herself that she didn’t want to think about herself and Robin - not for a while, at least. That was an open wound, and time, she hoped, would heal it. She sensed the urgency of the others, and realised that she had to go as well. As Much and Robin hurtled down the corridor, she hurried to her chamber, the tears she had fought back for so long starting up again.