In Sherwood Forest, the outlaws had Edmund tied up to a tree. A rag was in his mouth to keep him from talking.

"I know this man," paced John. He went to Edmund and took the rag out from his mouth. "What is your family name?"

"I'm not telling you," Edmund said defiantly with a shake of his head.

"You fool!" John was about to knock Edmund out, but Tuck was able to restrain him.

"Back off, big man. Back off," said Tuck, and John returned to pacing. "Of course you're not going to tell us. After all, you've got to be loyal to your father. He's such a lovely man. It's touching, really." Tuck turned to walk away.

"He's a good man," Edmud defended. "He's the way he is because he had to be. He never had any choice."

Robin came to the scene. "So where will he take them, this good man?" he asked the boy.

"Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you," said Edmund bravely.

"Even if you did, we wouldn't believe you," commented Robin right back. He sighed. "Well, he's staying at Locksley, so we'll start there. Tuck, you stay with this boy. See if you can get anything useful out of him. But don't hurt him. Unless you have to." Robin left to Locksley.

Tuck turned to Edmund and growled. Looking him up and down, he said, "This will be fun."

*****

Linda strode through the halls of Nottingham, a grin on her face. In her hand she held a letter that she was going to deliver. The receiver? Guy of Gisborne, of course. She was looking for the messenger, but she heard laughter coming from the money room. With a frown, she crept over silently. Leaning against the wall near the door, she listened.

"You did well," said Rufus's voice. "Convincing the Sheriff to part with his troops."

"Oh, thank you. Yes. Yes." It was Scrope. The stuttering fool was a traitor! "Well, he wasn't sure at first, but I told him. I said, 'Sheriff,' I said, 'you need the money.' And he listened. He listened to me!"

"To you," said Rufus with a chuckle. "Good work. You keep me smiling, and that sweet wife of yours won't be touched."

Ah, that made sense. Linda growled quietly and kept listening.

"Yes," stuttered Scrope. "Um... but he Sheriff -- um, w-won't he work it out?"

"Probably," answered Rufus, and Linda heard the tying of a rope.

"What -- uh... oh, you want him to work it out?" questioned Scrope.

"Sharp, aren't you, Scrope? Nothing gets past you. You see, I want him to come looking for me," explained Rufus. "And I want you to help him to put the pieces together."

"Oh. Actually, I-I-I'd rather come with you, let him work it out himself," said Scrope, stumbling over his words.

"Sorry," said Rufus. "You're no use to me if you tag along."

"Oh."

"Play your part well, Scrope," advised Rufus. "Think of your wife."

Linda heard footsteps come her way. Carefully, she slunk back. The door opened, hiding her. Rufus stepped out, looking left, then looking right. Then he made his way down the ball. Once he was gone, Linda went to the stables. She found the messenger and handed him the letter.

"Get this to London, and deliver it to Sir Guy of Gisborne. Don't stop. Be fast," she ordered as she saddled the big black horse.

"Yes, milady. But where are you off to?" asked the messenger.

"Locksley," she said. "I need to see someone."

*****

"So, what exactly is it that he wants then, your father?" asked Tuck as he waved the knife over the small campfire he made.

Edmund hesitated. "He's just a tax collector," he answered.

Tuck rolled his eyes and threw the knife in the ground. Going to Edmund, he grabbed his wrists. "Say it again," he dared, "just for fun."

Edmund swallowed and looked at the sky. "He's just a tax collector.'

Tuck made a straight face. "You know, when people lie, their pulse beats a little bit faster, and, Edmund..." Tuck grabbed Edmund's wrists tighter, "you just lied." Tuck let go and and walked back to the fire.

"I thought you were meant to be one of the good guys," said Edmund.

"If I'm one of the good guys, what does that make your father?" questioned Tuck.

"The person who's always been there for me," responded Edmund.

"And in being there, he's always tried to bully you, right? Tried to turn you into something you're not."

"He wants me to be tight and brave," retorted Edmund.

"Violent and manipulative," corrected Tuck with a loud voice. He bent down to tidy up the fire. "That's not what you want, though, is it? You know, you try and hide it, but there's a kindness in you."

Edmund stayed quiet for a few moments. "Apparently, I get that from my grandfather," he said in a small voice.

"And you think that's a flaw, right?" asked Tuck. Even though his back was turned, he knew that Edmund was nodding.

"My father says it is," he explained.

"Well, it's not. Trust me," said Tuck. "Kindness is never a flaw.

Tuck went out to catch something. When he did, he cooked it. About ten minutes later, the rabbit was brown and almost cooked. Tuck looked up to see that Edmund was eyeing the rabbit.

"You hungry?" Tuck asked. "'Cause this thing's nearly ready."

"If you give me food, you're going to want something in return," Edmund guessed.

"Well, yeah, that's how it normally works," said Tuck. "But what I really want, Edmund, is for you to think for yourself."

"I do think for myself."

"That's not strictly true," continued Tuck. "And if it was true, then you never act on those thoughts." Tuck rose to stand. "You suppress them and do what your father wants instead."

"He wants me to grow up."

"Edmund, you have a brain. You know that's not what he really means. What he means is he wants you to turn into him." Tuck corrected for him.

"What would you do if you were me?" asked Edmund.

"I'd relax," answered Tuck, "eat some rabbit."

Edmund chuckled. Tuck walked over and loosened his bonds. Edmund raised an eyebrow. "You're untying me."

"Well, you have to eat," said Tuck as he rolled up the rope. He threw it down. "And you're way too big to spoon-feed." Tuck went to the rabbit, but he stopped. He knew that Edmund was looking at the knife. "Go ahead," Tuck dared. "Pick it up. Stab me. Spend the rest of your life wracked with guilt."

To his surprise, Edmund just said, "I don't want to kill you." He went over and sat down. Tuck smiled and ripped a leg off of the rabbit, handing it to Edmund. "But family," he started as he took the leg, "that's important, right? Doing things for people who've been hurt." He took a bite of the leg.

"Well, who's been hurt?" asked Tuck. "Your grandfather," he guessed.

Edmund nodded.

"That's why your father's here, isn't he?"

Edmund sighed. "The Sheriff killed him for no reason," Edmund explained. "Because he could. My father said there was a girl there, probably his daughter, and she just stood there and did nothing. But what I know is that she could do nothing."

Tuck nodded. "Your grandfather was hurt, so your father hurts others, and...." Tuck finally put the pieces together. With a sigh, he asked, "When's it going to stop, Edmund?"

The boy shrugged. "He's my father. I stick my him because what choice do I have?"

"You always have choices," Tuck explained. He shrugged. "I mean, take Robin Hood. He could've spent his entire life lording over the less fortunate, but he chose not to. So now, I'm going to go and find my friends now. See if I can be of some use."

Edmund wiped his hands on his pants. "So can I come with you?" he asked.

Tuck made a little smile. "And where do you think we should be going?"

Edmund picked up the knife and handed it to Tuck. "To the butcher shop."

*****

In Locksley manor, the three outlaws looked around. Meeting at the front, they spoke.

"No, there's no one inside," said Robin.

"The cellar's empty," informed John.

"Stables are clear," said Much.

Robin sighed. "If we find out who he is, that'll lead us to them," he pointed out. "Much go back inside. See if you can find anything."

"Yeah," said Much with a nod, and he ran off.

"John, ask around the village," ordered as the two of them walked away from Locksley manor. "If you recognized him, someone else will have as well. There's someone I need to talk to."

*****

The door to the shop flew open, and Kate jumped. Rufus barged into the shop and looked at his two captives. He had a box in his hand, probably money.
"Midday," he said. Kicking the door closed, he went to put down the box. "And there's no sign of my son." He eyed the two outlaws, his voice low and dangerous. "It's no fun being you."

"Your son will be safe," promised Allan with a frown.

"Robin wouldn't hurt him," added Kate, though is was evident that she was scared. "He's not like that."

"Robin isn't here to save you now," snarled Rufus, before chaining up the two outlaws once more.

*****

Robin ran into Locksley, looking desperately for the person he needed to speak to. He had to play this gently, or else she was going to kill him.

"Rebecca," he called as he rounded the corner to her now obliterated shop.

Rebecca looked up from her basket of non destroyed vases that she and her daughter made. "No, tell me she's all right. Please, tell me she's all right," she pleaded.

Robin sighed and said these next for words carefully. "She's been captured by the new tax collector. I am so sorry."

Rebecca's eyes watered and her voice became cracked. "I can't lose her. She's my baby. I can't lose her as well!"

Robin sighed and said gently, "Hey, listen, we'll get her back. I promise. You have my word."

John arrived now. Glancing at him, John shook his head. Robin sighed in defeat. Much came running over.

"Robin," he called. "Nothing, apart from this." He held up a meathook.

"Oh, Much," muttered John, and he started to pace a little.

"Well, it's not Gisborne's," Much said as he defended his claim. "Look at it."

John's eyes widened. "Butcher's hook!" he breathed. He snatched the meathook. "Chauncey! That's the family name!"

"Who?"

"The old butcher!" John exclaimed. "Now, the butcher, he was a good man, but his son...." he shuddered and shook his head.

"I remember him," Rebecca piped up with a nod. "He was always angry."

"Yeah, always stealing, fighting," John listed.

"Well, what else can you remember?" questioned Robin, trying to get more information.

Rebeca tried to think. "Years ago, a girl in the village got married. Do you remember John?"

John nodded as the memory came flossing back to him. "That's right. The butcher came with his son. And everyone had collected money for the bride and groom. During the ceremony, the son -- Rufus, that was his name -- he was caught stealing it. After that, his father and him disappeared."

Robin tried to process the information. "Well, he'll go home. He won't be able to help himself. He'll go home to the butcher's."

"Robin!" cried a voice.

Robin spun around, finding that Linda was riding fast into Locksley. She stopped right next to John.
"It's Rufus, he's gone nuts. He's planning something against my father, and I have no idea what it is," she panted.

"We know, he has Allan and Kate at the butcher's," responded Robin.

"Well, what are you standing there for? Let's go!" She offered a hand to Robin, and he took it. Swinging on the horse, he held on tight. With a signal to the horse, she made it go to Nottingham.

*****

Kate and Allan were chained to the ceiling, standing and watching as Rufus's sword scrapped on the floor as he dragged it around, circling the two of them. He grabbed Allan and raised his sword.

"No, don't!" cried Kate as she tried to get in between.
Just then, the door flew open and Rufus got kicked. Rufus charged at Robin, but he easily threw him to the wall outside. Someone yelped.

"Really?" It was Linda. She ran inside.

"You all right?" asked Robin to the two captives.

"Yeah, hurry," urged Allan.

Once he was free, Linda tackled him into a bear-hug. "God, I'm so glad you're okay," she said. She pat his shoulders. "Find all the money, both of you."

"Right," he said with a nod.

"Go! Go!" shouted Robin, and Allan pulled Kate to help.

Just then, Robin was grabbed from behind. Rufus put a sword to his neck, and Linda raised her bow.
"What do you want, Robin Hood?" Rufus questioned.

"I want you gone," he answered, and elbowed his gut. He threw Rufus Linda's way, and she sidestepped. Putting her bow on her back, she drew her own sword. Rufus was surrounded.

"I can't go yet," said Rufus. "Not till the Sheriff shows his face."

"How about daughter, bastard?" she asked, and Linda swung her sword.

Rufus parried some of her hits, before he was grabbed from behind. Rufus waved his arms wildly.
"Linda, go! Get out of here!" Robin yelled.

Reluctantly, she left the butchers shop, only to see that Robin and Rufus emerge from the wall. Rufus kept swinging his sword, and Robin just ducked. Finally, Robin grabbed his arm and knocked the sword out of his hand and threw him to a corner of a pin. He put the sword on Rufus's neck, crouching.
"Robin! Robin, wait!" cried Tuck as he ran to the scene, Edmund with him.

"Tuck!" Linda exclaimed. She frowned. "Edmund?"

"He's with me," Tuck explained, and she nodded.

"This man is a thief and a bully," spat Robin. "Now, you tell me why I should wait."

"He only became a thief because my grandfather was killed," explained Edmund desperately.

"No," said Robin with a shake of his head. "No, he stole before that. He robbed a couple on their wedding day."

"Ouch, that's harsh," said Linda. Looking to the side, she saw that Vaisey was walking toward them. "Oh, no."

Edmund shook his head in disbelief, looking to his father. "No. That's not true."

"Just don't listen to him, Edmund," said Rufus.

"How wonderful," piped of the Sheriff, walking closer to the scene.

Robin looked up. "Great."

"I came to kill you," he pointed to Rufus, "and Robin Hood is doing my dirty work for me. Tremendous." He looked to Linda. "Ah, you're here, too."

"Oh, no, this isn't good," she mumbled, her palm covering her eyes.

Robin stood up and put a boot to Rufus's chest, raising his sword to the Sheriff.

"This town took my father from me," Rufus snarled, glancing to his son. He looked to the Sheriff and Linda. "You took my father from me, and you just watched."

Linda flinched and stepped back, her hand grabbing Vaisey's arm to steady herself.

"Remember Daniel Chauncey, the old butcher?" asked Rufus in a nasty tone of voice.

Vaisey thought about it. Then he gasped in realization. "Of course! Yes! My very first execution."
Rufus struggled against Robin's boot.

"Now, then, hmm?" taunted Vaisey.

"I had a feeling you looked familiar," said Linda with a cracked voice.

"But you see, Rufus, your father, he had to die because he stole, and then he admitted it, huh?"

"And I couldn't do anything because I had no say," whispered Linda.

"Sounds like he was trying to protect his family," Tuck said, making a valuable point.

Everyone looked to Edmund. Vaisey went next to his side. "You see, that's why your father has got so many issues," he said quietly.

"He allowed his father to die a crime he committed," stated Linda. "Like a coward."

"No." Rufus shook his head. "It wasn't like that. It was you two."

"Temper, temper. Hmm?" taunted Vaisey. Edmund simply shook his head at his father.

"Robin, we found the money!" came Allan's voice from the butchers.

Robin and Linda shot him a look. Bad timing.

"Money," mumbled the Sheriff. "My money. My taxes." He whipped his head around. "You! Give me my money!"

Allan and Kate ran off with the crate. "Clear the way!" he called.

Rufus escaped Robin's boot and grabbed Edmund with one hand, and Linda in the other. He led them away and dragged them to the center of town.

"That's my daughter, you imbecile! Get after them!" ordered Vaisey.

Robin punched him in the jaw, making the Sheriff go slack and hit the ground. Robin ran after Rufus.

"Your grandfather wasn't weak. He was strong," yelped Linda as she got pulled by the arm. "He died for you!"

Edmund pushed his father into a table. Rufus stumbled, before grabbing a knife. He pointed it at his son, an angry look on his face, as well as in his eye. Edmund put Linda behind him, practically smushing her against the pillar behind them.

"Shut up now!" Rufus yelled. "Enough! Stop it! The Sheriff did it, not me! We are leaving! Now!"

By now, a lot of people had gathered around. Linda looked to her left, finding that Robin was trying to get a clean shot at Rufus.

"No," said Linda, putting Edmund behind her now. "Rufus, stop it."

"No!" he yelled again. "Edmund, are you with me?"

"All he did was love you," said Edmund quietly from behind her.

"Please," begged Rufus with watery eyes. "Enough."

"He loved you," Edmund said again. "And it's your fault he's dead."

"Shut up," admonished Rufus. Flipping the knife around, he threw Linda out of he way so he could face his son. "Shut up!" he yelled again, and raised the blade.

"Robin, now! Do it now!" cried Linda.

Just then, an arrow flew in the air. She looked up, finding that it was going to hit Rufus in the heart.
And it did.

Rufus stumbled, leaning against his son, and he dropped the knife. Edmund caught him, and he laid him gently on the floor. Linda went to his side. Rufus cupped his son's cheek.

"Remember, son..." he struggled with his words, "the world... is hard on little people."

Rufus's hand went slack. With one last breath, Rufus passed. Edmund stared at his dead father, bottom lip trembling. Linda put an arm around his shoulders, trying to be comforting in a way.

"Edmund," she whispered. "I'm so sorry."

*****

In Sherwood Forest, the outlaws and Linda stood. Edmund was saddling a horse, getting ready to leave.

"Where will you go?" questioned Tuck.

"I don't know yet, but, um, I'm looking forward to finding out," answered Edmund.

Linda made a small smile. "I think you'll be all right," she said.

"I will now," agreed Edmund. "Well, um... thank you." He shook Tuck's hand. Climbing on his horse, he looked to the outlaws. His eye lingered on Linda. "You can come with me," he offered. "Make a fresh start."

Linda sighed. "As much as I would love to..." she slung an arm around Robin and John, "I can't. I've got a battle to fight."

Edmund nodded. "Until next time?"

She nodded. "Until next time."

Edmund nodded one last time. With a kick of his heel, the horse rode off. Linda sighed. "I need to find my horse."

"Oh, this?" asked Robin, and a black horse appeared next to him.

Linda chuckled. "Robin Hood, you never cease to amaze me," she laughed. She saddled on the horse. "Oh, and if Kate decides to join, treat her nice." She pretended to cough. "Allan."

"What?" he said in defense, putting his hands up.
The gang laughed. Reluctantly, Linda pulled the reigns. Digging her heel gently in the horse's side, he neighed. After that, he sprinted off to Nottingham, her father waiting for her.

*****

Vaisey paced around the castle. His guards were on they way back, but his money was gone. Even worse, his daughter was gone.

Vaisey cursed. Stupid Rufus, thinking that he could get revenge on him, the Sheriff of Nottingham, just because his daddy got killed. It was crazy!

Just then, the gate rose. Grumbling, Vaisey went to the gate. As soon as he reached the entrance, he stopped and gasped in both relief and partial annoyance.

"About time you showed up."

There she was, on her horse, a big old smile on her face. Her eyes were watery, and her cheeks were red. She must've known exactly what to say, because Vaisey lit up like a Christmas tree.

"We need to find a better tax collector."