vaisey is the sass master, tbh. just look at him.

Vaisey sat on his chair, note in hand. Skimming it over and over again, his facial expression would rise, then drop, then rise, and drop again. It read:

Vaisey, everything is in order. I am sending my special envoy here to send a message. Make sure that you have everything in ready. I have a request, one that I believe that you would enjoy... and one that shall be completed. Do not screw it up, or you know what will happen to you.

From,
Prince John.

Vaisey sighed. Five days, just five days ago did he return, and he was already getting requests. But then again, he didn't mind... surprisingly. Vaisey put both hands underneath his chin, thinking. What would the Prince ask for? What task was appointed to him? Smirking, he hummed to himself thoughtfully.

Just then, the horns sounded. Standing, Vaisey smoothed out his black robe, adjusting his gloves. Pulling on his collar, he calmly walked to the door and put on a brave face. It opened, and Vaisey tried his best not to grimace. Instead, he smiled as friendly as he could.

"My dear friend!" he exclaimed as excitedly as he could. "To what do I owe this exquisite pleasure?"

Jasper, the envoy of Prince John exited the red and black chariot, fixing his red robe. Jasper had chocolate brown hair, a tea-stained colored gray shirt with brown straps, black pants and boots, and red gloves. He had a mustache that formed into a beard, same color as his hair, and dark brown eyes.

"I am here to give you something from Prince John," he said, climbing up the stairs with a scroll in his hands.

Another? I thought he said he had everything in order? Vaisey thought. But then again, he did say in the note he was going to get another message, but the question was... what?

"Oh, really?" he said instead. "And what would that be?"

Jasper reached the top of the stairs, looking Vaisey dead in the eye. "An ultimatum." he said.

The color seemed to drain from Vaisey's face.

Jasper walked inside the castle, and Vaisey grumbled in annoyance. Quickly following though, he had the door closed behind him. Jasper sat at a brown wooden table, where Vaisey sat across from him. The candles were lit, and they were alone in the main room to where people would first enter when coming into the castle. It was a big room with banners hanging... or at least some.

"This is from Prince John," Jasper said once he got settled, and he passed Vaisey the scroll, who took it hesitantly. "You made a pig's breakfast of your mission in the Holy Land."

The Sheriff cleared his throat. "Ahem, that wasn't my fault," he said, not bothering to bring up what had transpired at their little time over there.

"As a result of your blundering," Jasper continued, "the Prince is hurting."

Vaisey opened the scroll, and his eyes widened.

"And he's passing the hurt by creating an extra little tax..." said Jasper with a tiny smirk on his face. "Just for you."

Vaisey stared at the envoy in disbelief. He wanted to scream, he wanted to shout, he wanted to throw the candles in the envoy's face and tell him that this wasn't fair. Instead he said, "How much?"

"One-thousand crowns," he said. "A month."

Now Vaisey protested. "That's impossible," he said with a look on his face.

"Count yourself lucky," said Jasper. "The king wanted your head in a spike. Prince John protected you and your daughter, and demands you repay his loyalty. Otherwise, he will be obliged to..." he trailed off.

"Yes?" Vaisey somewhat squeaked.

"Let you go," said Jasper slowly and darkly.

Vaisey cringed, for the voices in his head grew stronger. He imagined Caralinda's screams of pain, the torture, the hurt, then silence. No, he would not let the same fate happen once more. He then thought back to the note, and how it said that Prince John said that he had a task that Vaisey would "like". Sarcasm of course, and the Sheriff felt like an utter fool for falling for such tricks.

"He shall have his money," said Vaisey uneasily.

"And once and for all, deal with Hood," said Jasper, standing up now. "He's become a significant pain in the princely backside."

"You don't have to worry about him anymore," said a deep voice, and Vaisey jumped. Snapping his head to the direction of the sound, he let out a sigh of relief.

Guy was coming down the stairs, and he looked terrible. His short black hair that went to his neck was everywhere, his beard was in a dire need for a shave, he had circles under his eyes, and he himself looked like he wanted to collapse.

"Ah, Gisborne," greeted Jasper.

"What do you mean?" said Vaisey.

"He's dead," Guy answered when he made it down. "I killed him. Robin Hood is dead by these hands. Look."

Sliding a something down the table, Vaisey grabbed it. Flipping the object around, he recognized it as Robin's necklace.

"Oh, Gisborne!" said Vaisey happily. Standing up now to walk toward Guy, who was leaning on the table in attempt to try and rest for a little bit, he somewhat pumped his fist in the air. "This is a great day! The outlaw is no more!" Looking around, a crocked smile formed on his lips. "Let the bells sound around the land! Rejoice! Rejoice!" he cried out, and put an arm around Gisborne's shoulder.

"Uh, sorry to nitpick," interrupted the Jasper, walking over, "but haven't we been here before? Shouldn't we hold celebrations till we have proof?"

Vaisey scoffed. "Proof," he said, handing out the necklace.

"Like where's the body?"

Vaisey and Guy stared at the envoy, then they stared at each other. Guy ripped his gaze away, looking down at the table, and squeezed his eyes shut. Then, Guy heard something that he didn't want to hear from Vaisey's mouth.

"Wait a minute, where in the world is Linda?"

*****

I cannot believe I am going to a river in a forest with a man I just met to try and find Robin... who is probably dead! thought Linda as she carefully made her way down.

The man and her had been traveling this way for a solid fifteen minutes, and so far, they found nothing. Stepping over a crack, Linda gripped the man's shoulders to steady herself. Then they made there way down the path... Linda still gripping his shoulders, but now pinching them.

"We found him," she whispered.

There out in front of her, Robin Hood lay in the water, resting against a large object. The Man of God jumped in the water, making his way over to Robin, grabbing what looked like a tree root to steady himself. He examined him, and Linda trembled with fear.

"Is he alive?" she squeaked.

He nodded. "Barely."

Linda breathed a sigh of relief. Now, she had one less thing to worry about.

The man looked around him, trying to find something. Then he found it: Robin's bow. Turning around, he tossed it to Linda. She caught it, and then put it around her shoulders. The man then turned his attention to Robin. Grabbing him, the man tried to pull Robin to shore as gently as he could. When he was almost there, Linda held out a hand. Gratefully, he accepted it and pulled himself up with her help. Then he put Robin on his shoulders, and walked back the way they came. Linda followed him, wondering where he was going.

The two people—well, three, if you wanted to count an unconscious Robin Hood—made it to the hideout. It was a rather big and dark cave, and water droplets were heard as they fell to the stone ground. The only source of light was from the cracks of the ceiling, and even that was limited. 

"This is the place," said the man.

"It's a bit scary, don't you think?" said Linda uneasily.

He shrugged. "It's the only place that can provide shelter and protection."

Taking a deep breath, Linda followed the man. When they were inside fully, the man gently laid Robin down. Then he turned to Linda.

"I am going to need you to turn around," he said. "Or take watch."

Huffing, she turned and went to the mouth of the cave. She heard a fire crackling, and the man muttering to himself.

"Can I look now?" she asked after about ten minutes. "Or stop taking watch?"

"Hm? Oh, yes. Sorry."

Turning around, she walked back to the man, finding that Robin had his shirt off and was wrapped up in a red robe. Looking to the side, she saw that Robin's shirt was near the fire... along with his trousers, too. Shooting a look to the man, he shrugged and continued rubbing Robin's shoulders in attempt to warm him up. Huffing, Linda took the bow off of her shoulders and leaned it against a rock that was near her.

After two minutes, strict and demanding voices came from the mouth of the cave. Jumping, the both of them turned around. The man went to one knee, pulling out a small knife. Linda grabbed his arm.

"It's Guy!" she hissed quietly. "Go distract him!"

"Me?!" said he in disbelief. "Why not you?"

"Because I am not supposed to be here! Now, just do it!" she pleaded.

Reluctantly, the man went out to deal with Guy, while Linda tried her best to warm Robin up once more.

*****

Guy now hated Sherwood forest.

It was around ten or so in the morning, and the bugs were closing in. He would swat them away, but more would come. Eventually, he just gave up. But the worst part was going down. Slopes were steep, and every minute or so either he or a guard would trip either on a plant, a tree root, or the guards would be clumsy and fall over their own laces. Finally, they all made down to the river. Panting, Guy stood up straight.

"I want every inch of this river searched! No one leaves till you find the body! Move!" he shouted, and the guards went straight to work. "Where are you?!" he screamed into the empty landscape. Searching frantically, he started moving backwards.

"Lost something, my friend?" asked a voice.

Startled, he turned around, coming face to face with a man. He was black, and his eyes were brown, with gray robes and sleeves that were so big that his hands were hidden when they were out together.

"What did you say?" said Guy in a raspy voice.

"Sir Guy, isn't it?" he asked.

Guy drew his sword, stunned by the sudden approach. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

The man shrugged. "Man of God, traveling North, finding shelter where I can," he responded.

Guy lowered his sword. Walking around him, he continued his search. But the man wasn't finished. "I congratulate you on your victory," he said, and Guy stopped in front of him. "You struck a great blow in the war against lawlessness. It must give you joy."

Guy let out a tired breath, still a little exhausted. "Have you seen a body?" he asked, disregarding the compliment.

"No, I've seen no corpse. The river's taken it, maybe."

"Maybe," said Guy, turning away now. But again, the man followed him.

"You seemed troubled, my son. Can I offer you a simple supper? Or a confession?" The man tried to put a hand on Guy's shoulder, but he inched back. "Soothe whatever disturbs your mind?"

Guy turned to him with a frown, his floppy black hair flying in his face. "No, I want to keep searching. I need to find him. That'll soothe my mind."

Walking past him, he continued to scout the river. The man frowned, and said, "There is another, isn't there? A woman, perhaps?"

Guy stopped walking. His eyes widened, and he turned around. Walking straight at him, he gripped the man's shoulders.

"You've found her?!" he asked. "Where is she? Is she alive? Where is she?!"

"Calm down," said the man, gently clawing out of his grasp. "Describe her."

"She's about this tall," said Guy, using his hand as a measure and put it near his collar bone. "Soft brown hair, beautiful green eyes. Black shirt, brown pants, boots. She's the Sheriff's daughter, you would know her if you saw her."

The man nodded, processing this information. "No, I am sorry. I have not seen one described as that walk by me."

Guy stepped back a bit. He was so close, so close to finding her. He felt himself slowly loosing it, and his eyes flashed a fire in them. His expression darkened, and he clenched his fists.

"But," said the man, "I will notify you if I see her. Both dead or alive"

Guy's expression calmed down, and he nodded. Then he began his search again, while the man walked away, finally leaving Guy alone.

*****

Footsteps echoed from the mouth of the cave. Snapping her head to the sound, she relaxed when it was the Man of God.

"What did he want?" she said to the man.

"To find his body," he answered, pointing to Robin, but Linda could tell there was something else.

Shaking off the fact that there was something he was not telling her, Linda nodded, then returned her attention to Robin, who was now starting to stir.

"He's waking up!"

Jogging over now, the man stopped right next to her. She moved and put Robin's head in her lap, while the man was right on top of him now. Robin coughed, and moved his head weakly.

"Robin! Can you hear me?" asked the man, grabbing Robin's chin so he could look him in the eye.

"Who are you?" Robin whispered weakly. "Where am I?"

The man ignored him, and gently got his arm out from the robe, laying it to the side.

"I said, who are you?"

The man looked him in the eye. "Brother Tuck, and that's—"

"Linda?" asked Robin, turning his head upward.

She managed a small smile. "It's alright, Robin, you're safe."

Tuck looked at them. He exchanged a look to Linda, who was playing with Robin's hair and not meeting Tuck's eyes.

"Right. Now, Robin, I am going to need you to hold still," he said. "Linda?"

Nodding, she firmly held down Robin's shoulders. Robin gave them both a questioning look, and then his eyes widened when he realized what Tuck was going to do.

"What are you doing? Wait—aah!" Robin cried out when Tuck rammed his knee into his arm, popping it back into place. The outlaw started to cough wildly, his head plopping down on the ground.

"Dislocated," said Tuck. "Didn't want to touch it till you were on the mend."

Robin's eyes traveled through the cave, soaking in every little detail. Robin looked at Linda. "Did I kill him?" he whispered.

Linda pursed her lips and exchanged looks with Tuck. "No," she said with a small shake of her head. "He's still alive."

"Well, then I have to finish—"

"Whoa," said Tuck, trying push him gently back down as Robin tried to get up. "You're not going anywhere. Be still."

"You'd best let me up," admonished Robin, and tried to get up again.

"I said be still!" shouted Tuck, and punched Robin in the jaw, knocking him out. Robin landed in Linda's lap, unconscious again. "Rest in peace, my son."

Linda stared at him in disbelief. "Really?" she said.

He shrugged. "What?" 

Shaking her head, Linda gently put Robin's head on the ground. Then she got up to dry and warm up Robin's clothes. Stopping suddenly, she frowned. "Why is it that when I ask your name, you give me clues, but when Robin asks your name, you tell him?"

Tuck shrugged and grabbed a pot. "Because I have my place set," he said with a little smile.

Surprisingly enough, Linda didn't find herself mad... instead, she found herself pleased. "As do I," she said with a small smile, and continued her work with Robin's clothes.

*****

edited 7/26/2015