The Eternal Shadow

Chapter 41

XLI

"It won't work."

Guy couldn't fault Hood's logic but there was an obvious flaw in his plan.

"Shut up!" Robin hissed whilst backing himself and the taller man away from Winchester. He couldn't believe that for a second time this day he'd been reduced to taking a hostage.

"Do I have to spell it out for you? He doesn't care about me: he will just shoot us both you idiot!"

Ah yes, he had a point there.

A point that was proved right as seconds later an arrow sailed past, narrowly missing both of them. Either Winchester was a bad aim or that had been the warning shot. The smirk on the lord's face suggested the latter.

Well this was a conundrum.

He could stay put, which meant that Winchester would most likely shoot Gisborne because he was currently doing an excellent job of being a human shield but then there was the problem of the two guards who'd accompanied Winchester and were now approaching them from both sides. Or he could drop Gisborne so-to-speak and make a run for it but then that would mean he'd end up being pursued by Winchester, the guards and Gisborne.

What he decided on in the end, (and not a moment too soon), was to twist himself and Gisborne round to face the guard to his left before forcefully shoving Gisborne at him. As the duo toppled over, he then turned his attention to the guard to the right and swiftly put him out of action with a hefty punch to the face. He then relieved the man of his shield and it was a good job too because an arrow promptly landed smack bang in the centre of it. He cursed at Winchester before gathering his wits to face Gisborne.

As it happened, he was spared the trouble.

The troops had arrived.

He looked up to see Much competently dealing with the guard Gisborne had landed on. Nearby, Will had already knocked out Gisborne and was stood glaring at the man lay prone upon the ground. The cherry on the cake though was the satisfying sight of Little John smashing Winchester in the back of the head with his staff before growling "Him, I don't like."

"I was dealing with it you know!" The archer quipped, and despite the bravado, his enormous grin spoke volumes of his happiness to see them.

"Yes of course you were." Much said, voice dripping with sarcasm.

This was no time for banter however - more guards were coming up over the ridge where Winchester lay. Little John sprinted away from them, towards his friends and Robin directed him and Will to grab Gisborne whilst he and Much held up the new arrivals. Winchester would've been a better prize but Robin was hardly about to pass up the opportunity of taking Gisborne either.

We're not done yet

**********

"What happened? What have you done to him?"

The inhabitants of Sherwood forest were surprised to find that their guest had not only got over her bout of light-headedness but was no longer mute.

No one was more shocked than Allan, who'd been tasked with keeping an eye on her whilst the others went to fetch Robin, and had been hoping to coax a word or two out of her whilst they waited. It wasn't to be. Instead, it was the sight of an unconscious Gisborne being hauled into camp by Little John and Will that inspired this sudden improvement of health and desire to speak.

"Table leg to the head is what happened to him." Will answered casually, as if he were merely giving her the time of day.

"Oh! So that thing is a table leg is it?" Much chuckled, "I've been wondering about that!"