The outlaws—minus Tuck—walked into Locksley village. They were all carrying bags, the citizens eyeing them suspiciously.

"Shouldn't we be looking for Tuck?" asked Much uncomfortably.

Allan scrunched up his nose and made a face. "I don't trust that monk," he clarified.

"He can look after himself," said Robin strictly. "We've important work here."

Just as they passed Kate's mother working in a field, her youngest daughter tugged her shoulder and pointed to the outlaws. Kate's mother stopped what she was doing at went to the outlaws.

"What are you doing here?" she questioned, and they stopped in their tracks.

Robin shrugged. "I just wanted to make sure you're provided for." It wasn't a lie, at least. Robin handed her the bag. Sadly, she let it drop.

"I can't accept it," she said with regret. "And nor will anyone else."

"After all we've done for you people?" said Allan with a hint of disgust. Kate arrived next to her mother. "All we've sacrificed, and this is how you treat us, is it?"

"What about what I've sacrificed?" countered Kate's mother. "What we're all sacrificing every day while you and the Sheriff play out your little war games."

"We can't take the risk, Robin," said Kate in a nicer tone of voice. "Not now the church has branded you a heretic."

"Oh, come on," said Allan with a look. "You don't buy all that mumbo jumbo, do you?"

"The abbot of Kirklees is a great man," defended Kate's mother. "He wouldn't lie."

"Rebecca, the Sheriff is using the abbot to frighten you," Robin tried to explain.

"Well, it worked," Kate retorted.

"Well, then let us protect you." Robin's voice was getting higher.

"Protect us?" Rebecca said in a whispery tone. "Where was your protection when my boy needed it?"

Robin stayed silent for a few moments. "Your boy died for honor and truth," he said as gently as he could. He shook his head lightly. "Don't let that all go for nothing."

"Robin," intervened Kate, "even you can't take on the church and win. And even with Linda's help, it's impossible."

Before another comment could be said, John came sprinting back. Robin looked to his friend, but he found that John had a frightened and worried expression on his face.

"Robin. Sheriff's men. Linda is leading them," he said frantically.

"You can't be seen here," said Kate. "Quick, come on, get inside."

Thankfully, the outlaws followed Kate and Rebecca. Much stopped and turned around. Picking up the bag of vegetables that Rebecca refused to take, Much ran back inside the house.
John was absolutely right; Linda was leading seven guards on horseback into Locksley. The guards rode around paths, obviously searching for the outlaws. They were all surprised when they saw that Vaisey did not accompany her, but then John realized that someone else was with the guards and her:

Tuck.

His hands were bound and he was practically being dragged by a guard on horseback. In order to keep up and not slide on the dirt, he was forced to run.
"Robin," John whispered to him as he hid out of sight from the window. Straining to take a peek, Robin looked out and sighed. "It's Tuck," John whispered to the others.

Linda looked back at Tuck, a pained expression on her face. Taking a deep breath, she spoke as confidently as she could.

"This..." she started, "is one of Hood's men. Last night, he broke into the abbey."

Rebecca pulled Kate to the door, grabbing her arm and shaking her like mad. "What are you thinking?"

"We can't just hand them over," Kate responded.

"They're heretics now! You'll get us all killed!" Rebecca stated.

"They've been good to us," Kate defended. "I can't just see them hanged or worse."

"Kate, don't be a fool," Rebecca advised. "Don't be like your brother."

"This was once an honest man," Linda's voice drew their attention away.

John looked out the window and counted the amount of guards."Ten," he said to his friends. "We can take them."

"We can't save Tuck now," said Robin. "And neither can Linda. She wouldn't be here unless the Sheriff was going to do something, we all know this. And besides, we go out there, we endanger the people," examined Robin.

"He's still one of us!" John exclaimed quietly.

"We are not going out there," ordered Robin. "It's bait. We are not going to play the game that the Sheriff set up. He knows that Linda is easy to crack, at least in some cases, and then we are in trouble. We stay put."

"Look at him. Hmm?" Linda had to keep her voice from cracking. "Trapped, like a wild animal caught in a snare. Is this how you want to end up?" Linda trotted around a little on the big black stallion she was on. "My father, he is your friend. Yes, I know that he and you all... you guys have had a rough time with each other, but you both will come through. Now..." she paused and drew in a shaky intake of breath. "Who will help my father, Sheriff Vaisey, capture Robin Hood?"

The people of Locksley stayed quiet, some even looked to the ground. It was unfair for them, Rebecca had a point; but so did Allan, for the outlaws always did sacrifice everything for the people. Linda looked down at her horse and shook her head.

"Are you so blind that you cannot see?" she said, trying to hold back tears. She rode around a little. "My father and I are not your enemy, Hood is. My father has not forsaken you, forsaken God! Hood has!" She choked back a sob at the part that was coming up, but still remanded strong and confident. "If you do not assist my father in the capture of Robin Hood, then things will only get worse, beginning with our friend here," she squeezed her eyes shut, "who will be torn apart on the rack tomorrow. And unless you want the same for yourself and your loved ones, then I advise that you people please come to your senses." She looked to the guards. "Tell my father that his bidding is done. I am not to come with you."

The guards rode out of Locksley to go to Nottingham, and Linda exited Locksley to go into Sherwood.

Now the people were in a shock. Tuck shot all of them a glance, sorry and sad for himself and the people. His horseback holder moved, and once more, Tuck was forced to run. John stood up and let out an angry breath. Rebecca signaled Kate to do what she was supposed to. Reluctantly, Kate followed through with her mother's wish. She walked to the outlaws and tried to put on a brave face.

"You're no longer welcome here," she said. "And if any of you come again, we'll have no choice but to turn you in. And we have no choice but to protect ourselves now. Go. And stay gone. Forever."

The outlaws hesitated. Robin knew it was hopeless to try and regain the people's hopes now, the Sheriff was too threatening to them. With a little nod, he motioned the outlaws to leave.
"Let's go," he said quietly to them.

The outlaws left slowly, trying to stay out of the line of sight. Before Robin left, he shot one last apologetic look to Kate and her mother. Then he left, closing the door behind him.

*****

Linda rode into Sherwood with tears falling out of her eyes. It wasn't fair what her father made her do, and she felt terrible for speaking against Robin in such a way. What's worse is that she publicly announced the fate of everyone if they did not comply, and same with Tuck. No, she could not go back to Nottingham now and look her father in the eye.

Tying the horse to a tree, she slid down the hill. When she reached the Outlaws' Camp, she opened the gate and found that she was alone. Entering, she closed the gate behind her. Linda paced back and forth, her fingers taking through her hair. 

Then the gate opened five minutes later. Shooting up from the bed, she walked backwards a little. The outlaws were coming inside, but everyone stopped as soon as they saw her. With a little sniffle, she went straight into Robin's comforting arms. He wrapped his arms around her, stroking he hair in attempt to calm her. Linda sobbed on his chest, hiccuping every two minutes.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered on his chest. "I had no choice."

"We know," he said gently. "We know."
After her tears were spent, Robin sat her down on the bed, a blanket draped over her shoulders. Allan sat on one side of her, John on the other. They both put a comforting hand on a shoulder of hers, and she shot them grateful small smiles. With a deep breath, she explained herself.

"Tuck was found last night near the abbey in Kirklees," she said. "The abbot brought him to Nottingham and explained what happened to Vaisey, but I didn't really get to listen. As soon as Vaisey was done talking to the abbot, he went to find me. He said that he wanted me to go into Locksley and persuade the people to give you all in. At first I said no because it's him having the problem and not me. Then he threatened to raid every village and burn every home. At first I thought he was bluffing, but then he called a guard over to get all of the guards to ready the horses and ready the torches. Then I knew he was not kidding. After I agreed, he called off the raid."

By the time she was finished her story, she was trembling like mad. Robin nodded and took in the information. Robin started to grab his stuff.

"What the hell are you doing?" she questioned.

"I'm going to go to Locksley," he answered, and tied his cloak around him.

"But you just got done escaping," Linda pointed out.

Robin smirked. "And now I'm going back."

Linda rolled her eyes and stood up. Grabbing the over sized cloak, she put it on her.

"If you guys are crazy enough to go," she started, "then count me in."

*****

Tuck sat in the middle of his cell, not facing the door, meditating. His time was cut short when the cell door opened and footsteps entered the room. Tuck didn't turn around to look. Instead, he continued to meditate.

"Leave us." It was the abbot.

The guards left, and Tuck dared to look over his shoulder. The abbot had a sad look on his slightly old face, and Tuck could sense his uneasiness.

"He sent you, hasn't he?" Tuck questioned.

"Why is a man of learning prepared to sacrifice himself for a common thief?" The abbot now questioned.

"Robin Hood is the last hope for this country," Tuck responded.

"An outlaw? I don't think so." Abbot didn't sound convinced.

"You've seen the faces of these people," Tuck pointed out. "They're crying out for inspiration, for guidance."

"The church can offer people guidance." Of course, the proper response from the abbot.

Tuck scoffed. "The church is lying to them," he countered.

"Unless you give up Hood, Locksley is damned to death. You heard the girl, and not even she wants that," said abbot. "Women, children. Linda's father will stop at nothing."

Tuck stood up, though it was hard thanks to all of his chains. Tuck turned to look at the abbot straight in the eye. Tuck let out a little breath and spoke in a low but confident voice.

"There was a time when you would never let yourself be so intimidated, when you would defend a Pauper against a Cardinal!"

Abbot walked up to Tuck calmly. "You may have no care for your own life, my son, but surly, you don't want innocents to die."

"Why have you lost your stomach for the fight?!" Tuck exclaimed.

"Not so, my son," the abbot said calmly. "Not so. I have simply chosen a different battleground."

"And what battleground is that?" questioned Tuck, a fire in his eyes. "I know you, Abbot. I studied your writing when I was a boy. Your translations of Aristotle, of Plato... I followed your teachings like an apostle."

"Unless you give up Hood, there is nothing more I can do for you." The abbot walked away toward the wall and put his hands behind his back.

"Your battle ground had always been the words of great men, your mission always to bring enlightenment to ordinary people. How has that changed?!"

"Tuck," said the abbot, whirling around to face him, his eyes shining with scared tears. "Tuck. Some words are more dangerous that others. Some words are seems too holy to be translated."

Tuck's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, sweet heavens, no," he whispered. "No, no, it cannot be." He stared at him in shock. "The Holy Bible... in English? But the pope has decreed it remain in Latin."

"Now you see why I have to tread carefully," said the abbot. "Look." He handed him a paper. "Look, my son."
And Tuck did look, and he read it in astonishment. With a quiet voice, he read aloud: "'If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames but have not love I gain nothing.'"

Tuck looked up at the abbot. "St. Paul's letter to the Corinthians."

"Ten years hard toil," said the abbot.
"This could change everything," Tuck said to him. "Give the people the power to interpret the will of God. It would be a revolution."

The abbot nodded. "But I have to stop the Sheriff burning my book," he explained with a shaky tone.

It finally dawned on Tuck. "So this is why you are the Sheriff's slave."

Again, the abbot nodded. "He will destroy it unless I can make you betray Hood." The abbot grabbed Tuck's shoulders. "Join with me."

Tuck still had his eyes widened. He shook his head and looked down. "I will never betray him."

The abbot let go of Tuck and walked backwards, stunned. His eyes saddened deeply and he spoke quietly.

"Then I fear for your life, my son."
The abbot then left Tuck in his cell, giving Tuck time to register what was actually going on here. If only Robin knew. If only Robin knew...