It was a normal day in Locksely; the people were going about their normal rutines, working in the fields, just normal stuff. Kate and Rebecca were in their little pottery shop, making pots and chuckling at one another. Just then, Vaisey, Linda, some guards, and Rufus stormed into Locksley on horseback. Scrope was also there, riding with Linda. He got off and walked next to the Sherriff.

"All right, everybody, listen up!" shouted Rufus, getting off his horse and walking around, close to the pottery place. "You don't know me. You don't know what I'm like. So I'm going to give you a little example of the kind of tax collecter I am and what happens if you don't pay up."

Intrigued, Kate and her mom walked out from the shop. "We pay our taxes. We don't need his example," muttered Kate boldly.

Rufus whiped around. "I think I'm going to be the one who decides that," he said dangerously.

By now, Linda and her father had ridden up near Rufus. She winced, fearing what was about to happen. Rufus walked past Kate and Rebecca and pointed to the pottery place.

"This yours?" he asked, taking down a pot and examining it.

Kate nodded. "Yes,"s he said.

"It's our livelihood," explained her mother.

Rufus looked to the two of them. "Remember it fondly," he said, and dropped the pot to the ground with no remorse. The boy arrived. "Edmund."

Edmund grabbed Kates mother, holding her in double arm lock. He then dragged her backwards and went next to Vaisey.

"Let her go," ordered Kate.

"I can't, sorry," he said blankly, and Linda sensed that he really was sorry.

Rufus continued to break pots and vases. "Don't apologize, Edmund," said he.

"Don't apologize? You're just hurting an innocent woman," said Kate to Edmund.

Rufus swung a little swing type shelf and the rest of the pots fell to the ground. "Don't tell me you're hurt!" he yelled. He proceeded to knock over another swing type shelf. "If you're weak, hope is pointless The world is hard on the little people!" He knocked over a shelf. "You'd agree with that, wouldn't you, Sheriff? The small exist to be stepped on."

"There is a pleasing logic about what you say, yes," said the Sheriff with a hand to his chin, leaning on his horse.

"It'll take take us months to put right," pleaded Rebecca, and Linda sighed. She said the wrong words.

Rufus walked around once more, examing the messed up little shop. "You don't say," he said, and started knocking off the wood that hung above the shop. Going to a pillar in front of of the shop, he pushed. The whole shop fell in a domino style, toppling over one another. It hit the furnace, and the furnace fell down. Fire erupted, and Linda made her horse go back.

Vaisey chuckled. "Very good," he said, patting Scropes on the shoulder. Scropes chuckled in delight.

Kate marched up to Rufus. "You didn't need to do that! You didn't have to destroy everything!" she exclaimed.

"Kate, stop it," warned Linda.

"She's right," said Rufus, looking straight into Kate's eyes. "You want to keep you mouth shut."

"No, I really don't," Kate said defiantly, and Linda ran her palm down her face.

Rufus and Kate stared each other down. "I tell you what I'm going to do," he said menacingly. "Just this once, I'll play nice. I won't make you suffer for disrespecting me." He glanced at Rebecca. "I'll make her suffer instead."

Edmund smirked and made Rebecca go to one knee. Linda reached for her boot, her fingers grasping the hilt of her dagger.

"You want her to live?" asked Rufus with a sly grin.

"Yes," responded Kate.

"Then you come with me to Locksley manor," ordered Rufus. "You make me smile. You do that, and I'll let your mother go. So what's it going to be, little lady?" He cocked his head to the side. "Do we have a deal?"

Kate nodded shortly. "Yes."

Rufus grinned and took Kate's arm, making her go where he wanted her to go.

"Don't take her, please!" begged Rebecca. "She's my daughter! Take me instead!"

"So, Sheriff, how was the show?" Rufus asked the Sheriff. "You get a kick out of it?"

"Very good," complimented Vaisey. "You make Gisborne look all..." Vaisey shrugged, "warm and snuggly."

Linda shot him a dangerous look, barely pulling out her knife.

"In a good way. I mean, he's also very good... I guess," he added fast, trying to avoid her stare.

She loosened her grip a little, a frown on her face.

"Good. That's good," said Rufus. He walked away, Kate going with him.

Vaisey chuckled. "I like him."

With a groan, Linda rode away into Sherwood Forest.

*****

The outlaws loaded their secret chamber with the winter store of food that they had just stolen. Their was vegetables, fruits, grains, all kinds of things.

"You see that man watching us earlier?" asked John as he put in another stash of food in the camber.

"With the kid?" questioned Robin.

John took a basket from Tuck. "Something familiar about him," he said. "It's like -- I don't know."

"I saw smoke!" Much appeared. "I think Locksley's on fire!"

"Because it is!" exclaimed another voice. Linda was riding fast into Sherwood Forest. "Robin, Kate's pottery set is destroyed. Well, get on!"

Robin climbed on the back of Linda's horse. Holding on tight, she took off. The outlaws went to Locksley another way, so they were all there once Linda and her horse arrived. She and Robin immediately got off of the horse and gave it to a nearby peasant to hold on to. The outlaws were throwing buckets on top of the fire.

"We need more water! And buckets!" exclaimed Robin as he threw water on the fire. He threw the empty bucket to Tuck, and he ran off. Linda passed him another bucket full of water. John ran back with two full buckets of water, handing one to Linda. "John, Linda, who'd do this?"

"It's the man you saw with me this morning with his son," responded Linda.

"Robin, he's the new tax collector," said John as it dawned on him.

"Hey? Well, where's Gisborne?"

At that moment, Linda felt faint. She dropped the bucket and started to feel woozy. Gisborne... where was he? Alive? Dead? Gone? London? Coming back? She remembered when he had been captured like it was only yesterday. How he had saved her from death at the cost of probably dying himself. Robin's words seemed like a blur to her as he started to shake her.

"Linda? Linda! Where is he?" he asked firmly.

"He's... he's not here. Vaisey sent him off to Prince John because of the patronage problem, and now the new tax collector is in charge," she responded in a shaky tone.

Much ran to Linda and Robin. "It's Kate! She needs our help!" he yelled.

Robin looked to Linda. With a little nod of her head, Robin ran with Much. Linda staggered on her feet, the world spinning around her. So many things happening at once, she didn't know how to function. Shaking her head, she snapped back to reality. Going to her horse, she saddled on. Then she made her way to Locksley manor. To Kate and Robin and Much.

*****

Kate stood in the middle of the room in Locksley manor. Rufus leaned on a pillar, looking down at the ground. Edmund just stood in the back with his arms crossed.

"Nervous?" asked Rufus. He went to Kate and started to circle her. "I feel like some entertainment," he said in her ear. He circled her once more before saying in her other ear, "Can you dance?"

Kate grimaced and gave a little shrug. "Dancing is pretty basic. So, yes, I think I can manage it," she responded.

Rufus gave a deep chuckle. "Good," he whispered. "Edmund! Sit down. Watch the girl dance."

Edmund looked a little nervous. He put something on the table and looked at his father. "I have to see to the horses." He then left the building.

Rufus smirked. Going to a chair, he sat down and kicked his legs up on the table. "Well, dance, then," he ordered. Rufus clapped his hands like a beat.

Not knowing what to do, she nimbly hopped from one foot to the other, picking up the hem of her dress so she wouldn't trip. It seemed basic enough, and it would hopefully impress Rufus.

"And smile," he advised.

Kate put a sarcastic smile on her face and continued to do her little dance. After about five or so minutes, she stopped. Rufus quit clapping, and looked at her expectingly.

"Well, I did what you wanted," Kate said bravely and defiantly. "So are we done now?"

"Oh, no," responded Rufus. Getting up from his chair, he went to Kate. She tried to get away from him, but all she did was back up into a wall. Rufus got a little too close for her liking. "No, no, no, no, no." He took a strand of her blonde hair and twirled it in his fingers. "We're not done yet."

Quickly, she pulled out a knife and put it at his chest, backing him away. "Are you sure about that?"

As if on cue, the window to her left flew open, and a person flew inside.

"Robin!" she exclaimed.

Robin Hood had his bow in his hand, and a frown on his face. He notched an arrow onto his bow, glancing from Kate to Rufus.

"Robin Hood, I assume," guessed Rufus.

"We meet again," he said with a sly smile. "Lucky you."

Just then, the other window burst, and another person jumped in.

"Much! What are you doing here?!" Kate yelled.

Much drew his sword and put it to Rufus' chest. "Saving a damsel in distress."

"I was doing fine on my own!"

Rufus smirked. He kicked the blade away from his body and punched Much hard in the jaw. Much flipped on the table, dazed. Kate went to Much, checking on him and making sure he was alright. Robin looked on.

"You're wasting your time," said Rufus. He spread his hands out, trying to stall as Edmund snuck behind Robin with a rod in hand. "Already have what we need, Robin. Haven't you worked it out yet? Charity is pointless."

"Helping the innocent is never pointless," stated Robin. He turned around just as Edmund was about to knock him out. He elbowed him in the gut and threw him toward Rufus. Rufus easily put his son back on his feet. Robin raised his bow at the two of them.

"You hurt my son again, you'll suffer for it," snarled Rufus.

Robin laughed in amusement. "Well, who's going to make me suffer? You? A man who bullied young girls?" Robin shook his head. "Now, you ask nicely. You say 'please,' and I won't kill you."

At that moment, the door burst open, and Linda stepped in. She looked from the outlaws to Rufus.

"What's going on?" she questioned, her dagger raised and ready to throw.

Rufus glanced at her. "Hood wants me to say 'please' so he won't kill me. But you see, my father was the kind of man who asked nicely, and I watched him get kicked around for it. So I don't ask nicely. And I don't get kicked around. Kill me if you want, but I don't beg." He made a crooked smile.

Kate and Much got behind Robin, waiting for his next move. "The girl's coning with me," said Robin.

"Take her," intervened Linda, glancing to Rufus. "Come on, she isn't worth this much trouble."

"You're right," said Rufus with a nod. Robin lowered his bow. "Oh, and one other thing. I'll be telling my good friend, the Sheriff, who your new friends are." He looked at Kate, an evil flare in his eyes. "So you'd better keep your pretty face hidden from now on. You just made it onto Nottingham's most wanted list.

"Come on," said Robin, leading Kate and Much out through the back.

Linda sighed and looked out the obliterated window. "Just one thing after another," she muttered.

Rufus raised an eyebrow. "You helped me."

Linda glanced at him. "Of course I did. I only agreed to help Robin Hood that one time just for the fun of it," she lied.

Rufus nodded. "I see. Good work."

Linda gave a fake smile and nodded, before looking back out the window again.

*****

"About face!" yelled the general of the guard.

Scrope and Vaisey were watching them from the hall. Scrope was talking to the Sheriff, and he was listening intently.

"I hear the the Earl of Northumberland is having problems on his borders with raiding Scots," said Scrope.

Vaisey grunted. "Northumberland. Don't like him."

"You don't seem to like anything," said a voice, and Vaisey got off of the pillar.

"Ah. Linda. Where have you been?" asked Vaisey.

"Locksley. Chatting with our new friend, here. He seems quite ruthless, so to speak," she answered, looping her arm into his. "Why don't you like him?"

"Always so jolly," he answered, and she rolled her eyes. "No, the Celtic scum can have his land as far as I'm concerned."

"He's offering gold for troops," said Scrope temptingly.

Vaisey and Linda both raised an eyebrow. Glancing to their troops in who were in a training session, Linda frowned.

"But that would leave us unprotected," she pointed out.

"Oh, well, just for a few short weeks," explained Scrope. "You could close down the castle until they return." He stumbled on his words a little bit, like he was shaking it something. "Apparently, Northumberland is willing to be generous. Um..." Scrope sizzled his hands together, "very generous."

"Mm." Vaisey chuckled and put a hand on his shoulder. "Very good, Scrope."

About fifteen minutes later did the guards get ready to leave. The drummer boy started drumming a rhythm, and the guards marched off to the beat. Vaisey, Scrope, and Linda all stood at the entrance. Linda had changed from her blue dress and flower crown into one of Guy's shirts (third drawer of his wardrobe) and black pants. Her boots were still on, her dagger hidden inside.

"When do I get my money?" questioned Vasiey to Scrope.

"As soon as Northumberland gets his troops. Three days, perhaps," answered Scrope. "Rufus is collecting the money from Northumberland's against at Mansfield."

"Hmm. Rufus. Yes, he seems quite fit for the job," Linda said with a shudder.

"Put the castle on Lockdown. Nobody goes in or out without my say," ordered the Sheriff.

Linda slyly rolled her eyes at her father, he of who sighed and slumped his shoulders. "Nobody except my daughter and Rufus when he brings me my money," Vaisey corrected, receiving a kiss on the cheek after.

The bells toiled, and the gate closed. Thus, the castle was on total lockdown now.