Where's Robin? [Tuck & open]

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan was suddenly lost, painfully so. The blonde girl had spirited away Tom, the condemned man once they'd reached the edge of the main square and slipped into one of narrow twisting alleyways. The Raven had gone along to accompany them - well, he supposed it was alright to think her real name in public. Asha, then. Asha had gone off to look after Tom and his friend, and what was he meant to do? He was torn between running back to camp, to talk with the others and try and figure out what to do next, and staying put; attempting to find out for himself. The problem was, he hadn't even seen Robin get injured. Only the Ra- ...Asha had. Was he likely to have been captured? Was it barely a scratch, and was Robin right now making his way safely home? Or was he slowly bleeding to death in an alley just like this one, unnoticed and unaided?

Slowly, he took stock, carefully considering. The wrong decision here could change everything. It didn't take long to make up his mind. Allan himself was home free now - flick up his hood and he was another anonymous peasant. The first thing he should do surely had to be looking for his leader here, winding through the narrow passages of the walled town. He set off, worry twisting in his belly, hoping to find a sign of Robin's whereabouts.

[Tuck]

Tuck had decided to let Robin rest some. He knew that his presence in the room only encouraged Robin to ask more questions. And all that did was to agitate him and deprive him of more rest. Despite the messages that Tuck had left for the other outlaws he had really heard nothing from anyone of significance. Since he had had no real contact, he assumed that there would at least be a few outlaws out searching through the Square to see if there was a sign of blood, or any other sign of Robin's disappearance. If Tuck was going to rely on something outside of the message hole at the Inn, he would have to cover the same territory that they were, maybe run into one of them, and then pass the info one that he had to share. They all had to be worried, he supposed.

Tuck had been out, basically wandering, for several minutes. He was just getting close to the point where he was considering how much like looking for a needle in a haystack that this search was. Up ahead though, he saw a hooded figure, relatively long and lanky, who was walking with a familiar, though slow stride, almost as if they were looking for something. Allan? ..... could it be? He would be the est of the outlaws to run across .... stealthy was his middle name. However, he was too far way, and Tuck did not want to attract unwanted attention by yelling out his name, so he ducked down a parallel alley, hoing to intercept him farther on. Fortunately, they both apparently took the right turns, and Tuck found Allan right in front of him just 2 minutes later. "Allan,my son, I have been blessed to find you yet again. I have much news to give you. I trust that you know of a place where we can talk undisturbed?"

[Allan A'Dale]

It wasn't looking good. People just weren't leaving. The excitement of a dramatic rescue from the gallows had everybody talking, and they were just milling around like idiot cattle. Probably wondering if anything else worth gossiping about was going to happen; if the Sheriff or Gisborne were going to turn up and give the guards a nice public bollocking that they could all enjoy. The crowded square meant that he could barely see four or five feet; if Robin was walking about unharmed he could almost pass within arm's length and Allan still wouldn't spot him. He started keeping just to the alleyways. Although they were narrow and only allowed a few people to walk abreast, it was the only place he could hang around and reliably see everyone he passed.

Suddenly Tuck stepped out in front of him and he stopped short. "Look Tuck, I'd love to stop and chat, but you're gonna have to make it really quick. I've got a bit of an emergency situation on my hands here; Robin's in a bit of trouble - well, at least I think he is - and I've got no idea where he's got to." He checked around and gestured over his shoulder down a blind alley. "Follow me this way."

[Tuck]

Tuck beckoned Allan to lead on to wherever it was that they could have their short conversation. It was obvious that Allan was quite self-absorbed in the search for their leader, Robin, probably not unlike the rest of the group of outlaws. Tuck believed that they were all quite vulnerable to the Sheriff, Sir Guy, and his men right now. This was because they were so focused on finding and helping Robin that they were apt to let a lot of their normal defenses down. It was necessary to re-assure Allan, and through him, the rest of the outlaws, Tuck believed. He continued to follow Allan down a long street and then around several sharp corners, before they found themselves in a quite abandoned and spare back-alley.

Suddenly Allan stopped, whirled around, and put his hand against the wall, obviously waiting on whatever news Tuck thought was so important. "I'll keep this as short and spare as I can Allan, so that youcan ask me whatever questions you want to. I'm not sure if you were aware, but I was right behind Robin when he was attacked. A guard got a lucky shot in on one of his legs. I had to go in and finish him off. The leg wound was a bad one .... a lot of blood was lost. I took Robin to a friend of mine for treatment, rest, and safety. He is as safe as he can be in Nottingham. He will not be well enough, because of the loss of blood to be moved for several days yet. The fewer people that know where he is the better and the safer. The important thing is to spread the word and the get the boys to stop beating the bushes for him. Actually it makes them easy targets. Any questions?"

[Allan A'Dale]

He led the friar through the cramped network of streets, trying not to look like he was hurrying. He might be fairly anonymous, but Tuck's complexion made him fairly recognisable - there were very few dark-skinned people in Nottingham and after the wedding debacle, most were aware of where the holy man's loyalties lay. If they were spotted pelting around at top speed it'd make people a lot more suspicious.
Finally he found somewhere it was safer to talk and he stopped, turned and looked expectantly at his friend. When Tuck began speaking his stomach dropped. Allan knew how dangerous a wound in the leg could prove to be; you could lose a pint of blood in half a minute if you got caught in the wrong place. He felt slightly better when Tuck revealed that he'd got Robin to safety, but only a little. If he couldn't be moved for several days then he'd obviously taken a serious wound. "Well yeah, I got one question. Where the hell is he? But about the rest, yeah, I can let the people who need to know in on it. And we'll keep it quiet, obviously. Don't want the wrong people getting wind of it.

[Tuck]

Tuck was glad that he had run across Allan first. Some of the others might have wanted to act impulsively, either to see Robin, or to go and retrieve him or both. Allan, though, basically had the mind of a criminal and a co artist. As such, he knew the value of planning, secrecy, and discretion. He also knew to keep his questions to a need to know basis ... that was a real time-saver for Tuck.

"Yes, it was a very serious leg wound, one which I made sure that that guard would not recover from to follow us. Fortunately, the Tripp was close by, and he has no idea who is occupying am upper room. Second, on old friend of mine, Sister Mags, from the Priory, is tending him. She has given him a strong sedative since Robin has already made noises about getting up and getting away. We decided that it would be too dangerous for the Sisters to move him to the Priory,and given the clientele at The Tripp, having some outlaws stand guard on the ground floor wouldn't stick out like sour thumbs."

"After a few days, I was thinking, he may have stabilized enough to move him back to the camp. I expect we need a pretty good diversion to pull that off safely. What do you think? You'll need to spread the word and organize things while I stay here. I think, outside of Will and Robin, you have the best head for this sort of thing. You know,from experience, what works and what doesn't." he told Allan with true confidence.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan managed to keep himself from interrupting Tuck two or three separate times. It was tough, but he did it. As soon as the monk stopped speaking though, he let fly with his response, partly incredulous, partly just anxious to know the whole situation.

"The Tripp? Robin's convalescing in the pub?"

Sounded to Allan like the sort of thing Much would accuse him of. He'd spent a half-day or so in the pub's upstairs rooms recovering on a couple of occasions, but never due to a malaise unrelated to alcohol. "Still, makes sense," he added, "s'not like I'm exactly a stranger in there. I can come and go with messages an' that from Robin and no-one'll bat an eyelid."

He paused for a second, remembering what else Tuck had told him. "Sister Mags, you say? Priory? It's a nun, innit? What, is there some secret church where you all work for the outlaws without actually telling us?"

His mind raced ahead, already thinking about his next point. "A diversion? Nice and vague there, mate, but I get the idea. Something that's gonna get everyone else well away from the Tripp and keep their attention nice and focused elsewhere. For a good half hour, no doubt. Do you want the moon and stars as well?" It was going to be a tough task, but surely he'd come up with something. Surely.

Tuck's mention of Will's name brought his head up sharply again. "Yeah, him and Djaq would be useful on this. I ain't barely seen 'em since they came home. Still, I best worry about that later, I suppose. Now I've got to try and sort out Much. He's probably gonna be beside himself. Are you and the nun gonna be alright to keep an eye on Robin yourselves tonight? I've got a bit of explaining to do...hopefully Much'll have gone back to camp, but he won't have any clue why me and Robin ain't come home."

[Tuck]

Tuck didn't imagine that he had ever said some much, in front of Allan, without so much as a joke ora snide comment. obviously,Allan knew whatever he had to say, as soon as he mentioned Robin's name, was quite important. He could tell, though, that Allan found at least part of what he had to say, as a little bit hard to digest.

"The Tripp? Robin's convalescing in the pub?"

Even Tuck could see the humor in it, although Robin's situation was hardly funny. "Well, not exactly. He's not recovering in the pub. He's actually recovering over the pub, since he's in one of the rooms up the stairs from the main drinking area. However, he's not been left alone since he arrived, especially since Sister Mags arrived."

He listened to Allan's opinion and comments for several moments and then shook his head in the affirmative. "I think its one of the positives of having it at the pub, aqs long as Robin can remain upstairs out of sight. Many of the outlaws could just come and go at the Tripp without attracting any unusual attention, not just you. Besides you may need to run the operation, as opposed to being an operator, yourself."


Tuck finally chuckled. Here was the Allan that they all knew and sometimes loved. "Yes .... she is a nun .... and none more trustworthy. I've known here since I was a lad, and there is nobody more quick-witted in a tight spot than she. She's not the leader of the Priory for no reason. Not exactly secret, but you can count us to do what is right. That's what friends and family are supposed to be, aren't they Allan. They forgive and help, even if sometimes you take the wrong path?"

Tuck listened to Allan ponder about what he had alluded to about a diversion. "I was wonderingif there was something scheduled coming up,like some type of public punishment, that would naturally draw people's attention in another direction. Say .... what about Roe in the castle .... if he still operating there ..... do you think we could get word to him and him set up something where the guards are all on the other side of Nottingham and the castle when we sneak Robin out of town? What do you think, Allan. It'll probably be risky for Roe, but would he do it? Yeah, it will be a good idea to get Will and Djaq involved. Don't worry about Robin. Mags will have him out like a light ffor as long as we need," he said laughing.

[Allan A'Dale]

"Yeah, Roe came to mind almost straight away," he agreed, glad that they were both thinking along the same lines. "I'm almost certain he'll be up for it; he seems to love that sort of thing. You know, action, adventure, ridiculous life-threatening situations...him and Robin have got a lot in common. I dunno if there's any public hangings coming up, or some really unpopular criminals in the stocks, but I was thinking we might not even need to rely on the Sheriff's timetable. Vaisey's so bloody eager to catch us that every time we show up he throws every single guard on duty at us. If we get Roe to raise the alarm at the furthest possible point in the castle away from us, he can lead them a merry dance around the corridors while we sneak Robin out with no-one even around to spot us."

He was pretty pleased with it, and it seemed like Tuck was already on his side. "I dunno if we even need to let Rob know what's going on to be honest. You know him a bit, but I know him a lot; there's almost no way you're gonna keep him still short of tying him down or drugging him to oblivion. He might have complained about Marian not taking it easy when she was getting over Gisborne's stab wound, but he's ten times worse, at least, I promise you. At least it sounds like with Mags you won't need to go to the sexy rope store."

He realised what he said and cleared his throat hurriedly. "The rope store, I mean, obviously. The rope store."

[Tuck]

Whatever else might be said of him, Tuck thought to himself, Allan was always a quick thinker on his feet. While it was true that he was biased towards money-making schemes, often for himself, he was excellent when given a task to do, especially if it was prone to sudden changes. Often though, he wasn't given to be a great strategic thinker, unless he was being asked what was needed to the job. Therefore, Tuck was quite glad they started out in agreement. Once Allan disagreed with you it was sometimes hard to get him back on track.

"I don't know him very well, either, Allan. But i know he was a Crusader and he has a reputation for being able to put his life on the line when he thinks its required. I know he grew up with Robin, and as such, will do whatever it takes to protect him. The problem will be getting word to him exactly what we'll need and exactly when." After he listened to Allan for a bit he nodded his head in agreement. "Yes, I think something simple like that would work the best, where everything is in Roe's hands. If he could then provide us with a simple signal of some type to know when the diversion has started that would work almost perfectly, don't you think."

Tuck listened carefully to what Allan said about Robin and how involved they should allow him to be. "I think that the less Robin knows the better off everybody is, him included. If he knows too much he's going to want to be involved. And I doubt if he's going to like all of these people, Roe especially putting their necks out for him. He'llbe too worried about everyone's safety. And when it comes to sneaking him out, we will all be better off I think if Matilda keeps him sedated for as long as she scan. He'll be less of a problem that way."

Allan's next comment caught Tuck completely by surprise. "Sexy rope? Is there really such a thing. We heard legends of it in the monastery, but many thought it was only a myth. Have you seen it .... have you .... touched it?" Tuck was somewhat saddened and disappointed when Allan corrected himself. Tuck still had questions in his mind, but he decided now was not the time to press him Allan could be difficult when he got cornered and they had the Robin business to complete successfully. So it could wait.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan listened to Tuck carefully, glad they were still thinking in concert. He only knew a little of Roe himself; most times they'd been in the same place at the same time they'd either been in the Tripp or fighting their way out of a tight situation. Not the ideal time to sit down for a chat and get to know each other better. He wasn't even sure that he'd known about Roe and Robin's previous aquaintance - had they grown up together? They could well have told him as much and he'd simply let it slip his mind. Knowing who your allies were was more important than remembering their birthday and their mother's maiden name. But Tuck was right; the two of them needed a failsafe way of getting in touch with Roe.

"Well, I see him in the Tripp fairly often," he answered, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "If the worst comes to the worst then we'll just have to hang around the place hoping he'll turn up. But if we do it that way we'll have to be a bit delicate about things. We're trying to keep it secret that Roe even knows us by sight. He's our best hope of someone on the inside now Marian's cover's blown and we want him to stay there. Of course, we're gonna need to be able to tell him the whens and whyfores as well, but first we have to decide that for ourselves. If I come by tomorrow, will you be able to tell me how long till Robin's ready to be moved? No good in guessing and getting it wrong. Then our fabulous distraction'll all be for nothing. And in the meantime we can both do some thinking about Roe and the easiest way to get hold of him. Maybe Sister what'shername can turn up and pretend to take confession or something. People won't even bat an eyelid if she's his only visitor. I suppose I've got to try and get the gang in order, too. It'll be a bit weird without Rob, and I think Much'll take it pretty hard. It might be a day or so before we're even ready to think about a rescue.

When Tuck admitted hearing about sexy rope though, he blushed, hard. You couldn't talk about sexy rope to a priest, it just wasn't right. Nuns, well yeah, obviously. But a well-to-do bloke like Tuck? Too embarrassing. The fact that he'd heard of it at all was bad enough, but he was never going to admit to the coils and coils of it he had packed away safely under his bunk back at the outlaw's hideout. He couldn't believe he'd been stupid enough to mention it in front of a churchman.

[Tuck]

Tuck's conversation with Allan stirred several thoughts in Tuck's mind. Te first of which was, outside of Robin, and perhaps the lady Isabella,from what he had heard, did anyone know that much about Roe. Had Robin sent him on spy duty at the castle because hetrusted him so much. Or did he send him to Nottingham to spy because he didn't trust him enough to be privy to the gang or the camp. Almost the entire rescue operation would depend, in way or another on Roe, or the whole thing would just collapse on Robin. Just how well did Robin,himself know this somewhat older crusader from his youth? If he hadn't seem in years couldn't he have changed?

"I know that this is not the best of times to ask this question, Allan,but just how and how far can we trust Roe? I mean he could have been sent her to spy because Robin trusted him, or because he didn't trust him to be around camp, at least not yet. Robin probably had not not seen him in years .... couldn't he have changed? Is this something we should put Robin. Roe would be important to the whole thing. Why does Robin trust him as much he does.... and should we do the same ..... what do you think?

How often is often .... how many times a week do you see him? Hold on, in isn't there some secret spot where we can leave messages, or we can leave messages for him .... something that's basically a hole in the wall? Isn't that how he gets word of changes inside the castle back to the outlaws? Hmmmm ..... if we ask Robin about Roe won't he suspect that something major is going. Maybe we shouldn't ask him the, and just take the risk. We are making the assumption that Roe will be willing to take the gamble since its Robin Hood. I know ..... a lot more questions than answers, but I think we need some feedback from both Robin and Roe, before we are going to know how this is going to work. What do you think, Allan"

There was so much to be sorted out it was tough to know where,orwho with, to begin. At least they had a starting point, though, and Robin hadn't been taken prisoner, at least not yet. If anyone was likely to be useful in a escape plot it was likely to be Allan, so Tuck considered himself to have been lucky. To have found just the people he needed he. get what he needed was indeed fortunate. Allan seemed to be quite taken aback by his mention of the sexy rope. He seemed to be somewhat embarassed by the subject. that was surprising in of itself. Allan was hardly everembarassed by anything or anyone. Tuck decided again that he would let Allan be the one to bring it up in the future ... he would not pursue it unless Allan brought up the subject again.

[Allan A'Dale]

Allan cocked his head one one side, listening and pondering at once. Tuck did bring up a good point. There was a chance that maybe Roe was in this for himself, rather than Robin and the fight against the sheriff. But if so, he had as much to lose as Robin did. If the Sheriff discovered that Roe had been secretly meeting the outlaws, he wouldn't listen to any defenses about spying on the gang to help Vaisey.

"I take your point, but if he is, he's taking a big risk. He's been to the camp, but he gets blindfolded travelling there and back, so he's got no real idea of how to find it. And I can't think of anything else that he's learned about us that'd be useful. But if he gets rumbled in the castle then he's for the high jump, and no mistake. I think we're gonna have to grit our teeth and take our chances. We don't need to tell him why we need a distraction; in fact if we make it seem like it's less urgent he probably won't even expect that anything major is up. So if he isn't to be trusted, at least he won't know how vulnerable we'll be if he does decide to suddenly turn sheriff's witness. I don't see him regular, like, just here and there, sometimes in the pub. I think there is some kind of secret message pkace but I forget where it is offhand; must've not been paying attention. You're right though, about not clueing Robin in. It's just safer all round; this one's gonna have to be all us."

[Tuck]

Yes .... Allan's experience in planning criminal operations would come in handy, he thought once again. Honestly, Tuck could not think of a similar operation that would require such intricate timing as one that would insure the safe evacuation of their leader from deep in enemy territory. One of their big advantages had been that one of the leaders of the castle guard was an outlaw. So, they definitely had an insider. But could he be trusted like they would trust a regular member of the gang? Was he a regular member of the gang? Only Robin could no for sure,and since they really did not want to have to involve Robin in any ofthis, they couldn't ask him, could they? What exactly was the nature of the relationship between Robin and Roe? So many unanswered quesions, questions that would remain unanswered. Tuck hoped that that lack of knowledge would not cost them lives.

It was Tuck's turn to listen to Allan, to see if their analysis and solutions differed significantly. They didn't at least not a lot. They both recognized that they were going to be flying kind of blind on this one, but neither of them saw any good alternatives. They were simply going to have to wing it. "As I remember it, that was one of the big selling points with him being a spy. Nobody really trusted him in camp, except Robin and probably Carter, so he suggested it himself. I wouldn't put the Sheriff beyond planting him, but it doesn't feel right. You didn't trust him, Allan, until bailed a bunch of you out at the castle, Djaq included,and then arranged a quick diversion so you could get out with Carter."

"Hmmmm ..... one thing that I've learned about spies .... is that they are naturally suspicious about everyone and everything .... that's how they keep their heads out of the noose .... its how they survive. I think if we try to sneak this by him .... he may suspect something's being pulled over on him. Do you think its too dangerous to have the man we're depending on for the diversion that everything rests on .... for him not to trust us. If we taking a risk anyway, should we not go all the way and trust him with everything. Now, Allan, you are experienced in such matters, and I will defer to your judgement, but I thought we should consider who we piss off unnecessarily."

Tuck considered what Allan had said about both the Tripp and Robin. He thought it made sense, but they shouldn't give up on the mssae exchange place. He was glad that they agreed about Robin. They had enough to worry about with Robin thinking that he should be running things about halfway through the operation. It would be best if Mags kept him sedated until the night before the breakout. "Don't be concerned about not knowing the message exchange spot Allan. Its very possible that Will or Carter might know it. Roe might even have passed the location on to Lady Thornton at the castle as a back-up. I've heard Carter say that the thinks they are close. Well .... let's be about our business ..... there is much to do .... but we do need to know what you think we should do about Sir Rober'," he asked, waiting for a final word from Allan.

[Allan A'Dale]

"Oh yeah, you're right," mused Allan. "He <I>did</i> nominate himself, didn't he? And I shouldn't worry about me not trusting him, Tuck. If you remember I didn't trust you either, actually. Or that Devon girl. Or anyone else. Or Isabella, come to think of it. So it's hardly a huge stain on his character that I wasn't his number one fan straight away."

He listened carefully to Tuck's points about Roe's suspicions. "You're right. If he thinks we don't trust him, he might well give up on us altogether. We're better off taking the plunge. And anyway, maybe he'll prove himself beyond doubt on this one. We got to give him the chance, at least."

He scratched his head and thought again about the message place. "Well, it's not that much use to me, anyway," he admitted. "I mean, I can't read or write, but I bet you and that nun can. If you two can find out where it is from Will or Djaq, then you guys can take charge of the messages on paper, and I'll take care of the in-person stuff. I'll drop in tomorrow and check on Robin, once the dust has settled a bit. If I go today then it might be a bit...obvious, you know?"