By the Forest pool (Isabella)

[Robin Hood]

(ooc: This takes place immediately after Robin, Carter, Roe and the outlaws have been to Locksley)

Robin moved out of the shadow of the trees and into a small dell dominated by a freshwater spring and pool. It was a warm morning and he carefully placed his bow on the ground and shrugged off his jacket. Kneeling beside the pool, Robin cupped his hand and dipped it into the cold water. Raising it to his mouth, he drank deeply and was glad of the chilled water to ease his parched throat.

A big fat bumblebee droned past him, landing on a flower, where it started to collect pollen. Robin leaned closer to inspect the insect, engrossed in its activity as he waited for his companion.

[Isabella]

Isabella cursed as a bramble ripped into her dress for the hundredth time that day. She had ridden into the forest - that was the only way to get there from the castle quickly - but had to dismount when the undergrowth became too thick and tangled for her to continue, and carry on on foot.
The horse was not her own. It was her brother's. She was an old mare who was blind in one eye. Guy had said she was no good - no good for anyone but his sister. Isabella soon found that the horse, albeit slow, was steady and reliable, and was the only beast who could take her into the dark of the forest without growing uneasy. She had tied her up by an oak tree before heading towards the pool where she hoped to find Robin.
She found herself being scratched and torn at by all manner of plants, and it seemed like an age until the undergrowth made way for the clearing where the pool was. She saw Robin instantly, and hurried to pick the thorns out of her dress and make herself look a little more presentable. She wondered how he had managed to get here without ending up covered in brambles. When she thought herself half-decent, she stepped towards the outlaw.
"Robin?" she said, smiling.

[Robin Hood]

Robin spun around at the sound of her voice. He smiled, his grin lighting up his entire face. "Isabella," Robin greeted her warmly. "Thank you for coming." He approached her and, taking her hand, led her through the path of brambles and back to the water's edge.

"You weren't followed?" He asked, glancing over her shoulder and into the dim forest. "Come and sit down." Walking to a small boulder, Robin indicated for his guest to take a seat. "Thank you for coming so quickly. I have something I need to discuss with you." He withdrew the message from King Richard, which Carter had given him, and showed it to Isabella as way of an explanation.

[Isabella]

Isabella was glad Robin hadn't noticed her slightly bedraggled state, and when he took her hand, she liked it. His hands were rough and far bigger than hers, and for some reason, made her feel safe. She shook her head when he asked if she was followed.
"No, I'm sure I wasn't. Even if I was, no-one would be able to see of hear us through those brambles, or get through them without giving the game away. That was painful to learn," she told him.
She sat down on the boulder, as instructed, and began to read the letter. She looked up at Robin, shocked, once she had read it.
"An assassin?" she said, "But - who? Do you have any idea who it is?"

[Robin Hood]

Robin nodded, as he took back the scroll and rolled it up again. "We believe its Lady Rosetta Court." He replied, tucking the scroll into his belt. "Allan heard her say she had a contract with the King. We think she's planning to kill Prince John at their wedding or at least soon after it." Robin turned and strode away a few paces. "Can I count on your help, Isabella? Its going to be dangerous and probably a bit foolhardy, but we could do with you on our side."

Robin walked quickly back to her side and knelt down on one knee. "We plan to swap Lady Rosetta with Allan on the way to the ceremony, but I could really use your help in getting my men into the church. We need to make it look like Rosetta is the innocent party here. I dread to think what John would do if he found out that his brother ordered his assasination. It wouldn't be good." He shook his head sadly. "So what do you think?"

[Isabella]

When Isabella asked who the assassin was, she had guessed that Lady Rosetta was something to do with it. Out of everyone in the world who wanted Prince John dead, she must want it most.
The girl's got drive, she thought sarcastically to herself as she remembered Lady Rosetta killing some of the Sheriff's guards.
Murdering Prince John would be as easy as breathing for someone so familiar with fighting as that woman, with such a strong hatred for him.
"Of course I'm on your side," she pledged, "You can trust me, I swear to you."
That was clear in her mind - whatever the outlaws required of her, whatever Robin required of her - she was ready to help them for the good of their cause. But when Robin mentioned swapping Lady Rosetta for Allan, she could not help but smile.
"Allan?" she asked, "But... does he agree with your plan? And besides, won't Prince John notice his bride is a man? Well, I'm sure you have your reasons."
She suppressed her laughter, however, remembering how serious the situation was.
"I can get your men into the church," she continued, "I'm invited to the wedding. They could come in through the back entrance the priest uses, I suppose. Listen, I don't care if it's dangerous - I've been in far worse scrapes before and I can handle myself if needs be. What do you plan on doing to the real Lady Rosetta? You can keep her tied up for a while, but what then? Won't she just try to kill Prince John again?"
She looked at Robin, her eyes full of questions.

[Robin Hood]

Robin nodded sagely as Isabella agreed to help and then even suggested a way into the church for his men. "Well, we're counting on the veil being very thick." Robin gave a little chuckle. He frowned though when she asked about Rosetta. He sighed as he thought about the trouble Rosetta could cause. "I think we need to get her away from there to start with then show her this message from the King." He patted the scroll in his belt. "There's always the chance that she won't believe us and I suppose we must be prepared for that."

Robin frowned. More problems to solve. "There must be a safe house somewhere we can place her? But where?" He tried to wrack his brains.

[Isabella]

Isabella frowned, trying to think of somewhere to put Lady Rosetta.
"I have no idea," she said honestly, "But it's got to be a very safe house if it's going to keep Lady Rosetta inside it."
She took a deep breath before admitting something to Robin.
"Listen, I spoke to Guy about her,"she said, "I was suspicious of her intentions in Nottingham - the way she kept telling everyone who cared to listen that she was a witch, and that she did not want to marry Prince John - it made me think there was more to her than what we are expected to think of her. I was going to tell you I thought she was planning something - but obviously, she already has. I'm sorry for not acting sooner, now."
She looked at Robin, feeling ashamed of herself for not doing something about her suspicions.
"Who are you going to get to keep her under control?" she asked, "Because if she escapes, she'll be a lot of trouble. From what I know of her, she's very determined."
A thought occured to her.
"Isn't there a safe house a few miles away?" she asked, "I can't remember the name of it - it's North of Nottingham. Oh, I can't think of its name now - do you know it, by any chance?"

[Robin Hood]

Robin pursed his lips and slowly shook his head. He couldn't think of any safe house to the north of Nottingham. "I don't know where you mean. There's Kirklees Abbey away to the north west but if she's a witch then neither she nor the Sisters will be happy to share the same roof." Robin started to bite his thumb nail. This was going to prove to be a bit of a problem.

"There's that deserted farmhouse in Clun," he smiled, "Thats a possibility, I suppose. And there's no need to apologise either, Isabella, you've been a great help." And it was true, she had. Robin smiled at her. How easy it would be for him to fall in love with her if he didn't have sweet Marian. "I've asked Carter to guard her. He won't stand any of her nonsence but I could have done with his experience in the Church." Robin shrugged his shoulders. "I would have asked Kate but she would have got upset, I think, and accused me of trying to protect her. But she's handy with a sword, nonetheless."


(ooc: The deserted farm I'm thinking of is the one that Morgan will be moving into shortly. Its been empty for a while.)

[Isabella]

Isabella nodded in agreement. Carter would be a good choice to take care of Lady Rosetta during all the commotion - but Robin was right about him being useful in the church. She remembered how he and Allan had fought off ten guards in the castle - with Roe's help, of course. He had to be a very experienced fighter. On the other hand, this Kate was good with a sword, too - all of the outlaws were. Isabella hoped that this scheme of things would be successful - but Robin knew his gang, and it was important that everyone worked well together.
"The deserted farmhouse sounds like a good idea," she agreed, "We can't put her with the nuns, as you said. She's a stubborn one, make no mistake. And don't worry about Carter and Kate. If anyone understands team politics, it's you, Robin. Even if this is perhaps your most insane mission yet, the outlaws will follow you."
She smiled, thinking of how many ways this plan could go wrong. What if Prince John noticed that his bride was of the wrong gender? Or Guy realised that she was in on the act? Then she wouldn't be able to get the outlaws inside the church.
"So, you swap Lady Rosetta with Allan, and get yourselves inside the church whilst Carter keeps the bride under control elsewhere," she began, "But the marriage ceremony can't last for that long - at the most until the priest says: 'You may kiss the bride'. So what are you planning on doing once everyone's at the wedding? If I didn't know you better, Robin, I'd say you were mad."
But she smiled anyway - there was nothing like a bit of excitement, especially if she was involved with it.

[Robin Hood]

Robin got to his feet and stretched his legs. "Well, I guess we're all hoping it won't get so far as the Prince kissing Allan. I was planning on standing up when the Bishop asks if anyone objects." He tilted his head and grinned at Isabella. "I guess I haven't really thought this plan through, have I? I suppose I have to come up with a reason why we swapped Rosetta, and Prince John wouldn't like to hear the truth that it was to save his life. His relationship with the King is tenuous at best." Robin frowned as he gave this some thought. "No, I think we will have to play to our 'thieving outlaws' impression and try to convince the Prince that we're holding Rosetta for ransom. I'm guessing he won't pay straight away so that'll give us time to sort out this whole sorry mess. Or at least get her on a ship to France."

A flash of bright blue caught Robin's eye as a kingfisher dived into the pond. He watched the bird for a moment, fascinated with its precision in catching its dinner. He smiled again. "Sometimes, Isabella, its good to go mad for a bit. It keeps everyone guessing." Robin chuckled.

[Isabella]

Isabella could not help but smile at Robin's comment.
"Well, you certainly keep me guessing," she remarked.
Her light-hearted feeling vanished like a wisp of smoke. Normally, she found it so easy to talk to Robin. But whenever something like this happened, she just couldn't. She bit her lip, and stared at the ground littered with russet-coloured leaves. A scarlet-painted ladybird was making its way through them, as if they were a forest inside a forest. But she wasn't focusing on the tiny creature - not really.
"You know, Robin," she began, unsure quite what to say, "I've been thinking - you know, about..."
She trailed off uncertainly and brought herself to look at him.

[Robin Hood]

The mood change was quite palpable. All of a sudden, an air of seriousness had descended. Robin swallowed nervously. Although he was usually so confident around women, Robin felt awkward when they expressed their intentions and he couldn't help dread what Isabella was going to say.

"About what?" Robin queried, mentally cringing as to what the answer may be. "What's on your mind?"

[Isabella]

Isabella smiled weakly.
"Listen," she sighed, "I don't know how to say this, so I'm sorry if it comes out wrong."
Normally, words were Isabella's strength, but what she had to tell Robin was just so difficult for her to express. She tried to articulate her tongue to make the sounds form into something understandable in her mouth. It was so awkward and confusing to do that it was like she was a child, only just learning to talk.
“I – um, I know that we’re – well, we’re friends,” she began, “But… maybe – if it carries on, it might become something else, too – and in light of our situation, I don’t think it can carry on in – quite the same way. I mean – you and your wife, your life together is only – only just beginning. And I would feel guilty if I thought I was getting in the way of that. You have the rest of your lives to spend together, and I just think that I should – that we should know what is the right thing to do. It’s right and good that we help your cause, that we can work together. But anything else, Robin, I… don’t know if that is, too.”
She stopped to study the expression on his face.
“I don’t love you,” she said simply.
The words hung in the air.
“And you don’t love me, either,” she continued, “You love your wife. But if we leave it much longer, Robin, I will. I will love you. And that would be wrong. You understand, don’t you?”
She looked at him pleadingly. Surely he knew what she meant. Surely he would listen?

[Robin Hood]

Robin's eyes widened but he kept calm, after all Isabella was right. With Marian being so ill, he'd appreciated the little diversion that she'd offered but there was no way it could develop any further. If anything, he respected Isabella, despite her being a Gisbourne, for her honesty.

Impulsively, Robin took hold of one of Isabella's hands and held it tightly in his fingers. Raising her hand to his lips, Robin kissed it gently. "You are a true and good friend to me, Isabella. I'm sorry if I've taken advantage of that. You deserve so much more and I hope one day you'll find it." Releasing her, Robin Hood took a step back and turned on his heel. He started to stride away across the clearing then paused and looked over his shoulder. Robin found his eyes drawn to Isabella's face. "I'll get a message to you before Prince John's wedding with the final plan. Until then, stay safe Isabella."

As soon as Robin reached the edge of the clearing, he disappeared into the shadowy forest like a willo-the-wisp.


(ooc: I think thats as far as we can take this, Elf. }