1 | master of arms [gisborne]

Sixteen

Robin struggled in his chains. Pulling on them, he tried to make them loose. No such luck. Panting, he looked back up. Then he heard the door open. Someone was coming inside. Looking back over his shoulder a bit, he saw that Finn was coming in. Finn nodded to the guard, an the door closed.

"A visitor?" asked Robin like he had no idea who the person was. "I'll not shake your hand if you don't mind."

Finn chuckled with no humor. "They tell me you were once a nobleman," he said, "that you have up your title, lost your lands, lost all your wealth."

"The people have endured far worse," came Robin's reply.

"They tell me that you lost the woman you loved," Finn continued, walking up next to Robin.

Robin chuckled dryly. Looking to his side, Robin's eyes became cold. "What do you want from me, Irishman?"

"We're the same, you and me," he responded. "We both have cause. But you, Robin, you inspire men. I've seen it right here. You see, my people – well, my people are as oppressed by this Prince John as your people, and yet they will not rise at the all of Finn MacMurrough."

Robin nodded his head shortly. "And you want my help."

"I want you to join forces with me," he said temptingly. "We can learn from each other, you and me. Together, we can smash this Prince John and the Sheriff, all of them. I'll help you free England, you help me free Ireland. We could both be kings. Now, what do you say to that?"

Robin shook his head and looked in Finn's eye. "England already has a king." Robin punched Finn in the guy grabbing something off of him. Wrapping his chains around Finn's head, Robin put Finn in a headlock. "Richard. His name is Richard."

"I only have to shout," said Finn, struggling to get out of Robin's lock. "There's half a battalion out there."

Reluctantly, Robin let Finn go. Finn rubbed his neck, smiling at Robin. "You think over what I've said to you. Perhaps you don't want a crown but a just and fair country. If that's what you want...." Finn backed up to the door and knocked on it. "I might be the only chance you have left." Then, Finn left.

Robin let out a breath. Looking into his palm, he laughed to himself. He got the key. "Thank you very much," he said as he unhooked his chain.

But then the door opened again. Groaning, he hid the key. Looking over his shoulder, he let out a breathless laugh. "About time you showed up."

Linda groaned. Signaling the guards to shut the door, she turned to face him with her hands in her hips. "Where is it?"

"What?"

"They key, stupid."

Robin rolled his eyes. As best he could, he held out the key. Linda smiled. Walking toward him, she stood in front of him. That's when Robin got a good look at her. Linda was a mess. Her eyes were red and puffy, and her hair was down and messed up a bit. Adding on to the redness in her eyes, Robin could see the sadness in her as well. He gave her a look.

"I'm fine," she assured him. "Just got in a fight. Now, what did Finn want?"

So Robin explained everything to her. Linda listened intently, putting a hand to her chin and nodding her head. When Robin was finished, she laughed to herself.

"Wow, Finn really is desperate," she said. Her expression turned grim. "You need to get out of here. Father is shipping out the villagers today."

Robin nodded, his expression also grim. "What do I do?"

Linda smiled. "What would Robin Hood do?" Giving a kiss to his cheek, she walked over to the door and knocked on it. "You'll figure out something." Then she left the room, Robin left alone to think.