Lady Locksley

Chapter 46

The Great Escape

Roana struggled weakly against William's vice-like grip, but her head was woozy and her cheek aflame with pain. She tried in vain to push him away, but her hands wouldn't work properly, and flopped against his chest, ineffectually. She let out a sob of despair as he began to yank her trousers over her hips, exposing her skin to the cold castle air. He grabbed her arm and pulled her around, sharply, pushing her face into the wall and pressing up behind her.
NO, NO, NO, Roana screamed in her mind. This couldn't happen. She shook her head, desperately attempting to unscramble her brain, when there was a sudden thud and William collapsed against her, before sliding to the floor in a heap.
Stumbling away from him and the wall while pulling her trousers back into place, Roana turned to see Alice, holding aloft a bucket which she had used to knock William out, her face a mask of horror.
"My lady! Are you alright?" She dropped the pail with a clatter and advanced on Roana, her expression switching to one of concern. She held out a hand to touch Roana's cheek, and Roana drew back with a start as a jolt of agony tore through her.
"Ow! That really hurts!" She used her tongue to probe the inside of her cheek. It was excruciatingly tender, but luckily, no teeth had been dislodged. Her lip was also sore, presumably where she had bitten through it when William hit her.
With a start, she remembered why she was there, and began to totter forward, still unsteady on her feet.
"Thank you, Alice. But I have to get to the dungeons and rescue Robin."
Alice nodded. "I have the keys." She held up a metal ring containing a number of keys of different shapes and sizes. "Stole them off the jailer. Can you walk?"
"I think so." Roana glanced down at William, who was sprawled on the stone floor, dead to the world. "Will he be alright?"
Alice ignored him. "Who cares? He just needs to sleep it off. Come on. Take my arm."
Her head a mass of different pains, Roana took Alice's arm gratefully, and they left William's prone body behind, heading for the dungeons.
As they progressed, Roana concentrated on pushing the pain aside and focusing on the task at hand. It wasn't easy; her head throbbed and her mouth was sore to the touch. She felt a wave of emotion; if Alice hadn't turned up, she wouldn't have been able to stop William. He would have hurt her. He would have violated her. She shuddered at the thought, and Allan came to mind. He would be furious.
Coming around the corner towards the huge oak door that enclosed the lower level of the castle and the dungeons, they almost collided with Little John and Djaq, who both looked at Roana in alarm.
"What happened?" Djaq said, quickly. "You were behind us and then you were gone. And your face!"
She reached out to touch Roana's cheek, but Roana shied away. "It was William. He attacked me, but Alice stopped him. I don't know what my face looks like, but it hurts like hell."
Little John cursed in fury and thumped his staff on the ground. "Where is he?"
"Out cold," Roana replied, dismissively. "He's no longer a concern. Now, are we going in or waiting for the others?"
"The jailer isn't there. No jailer, no keys," Djaq said in disappointment. Alice held up the key ring with a flourish and both John and Djaq's eyes lit up.
"Let's go," Roana said, and began to make her way to the dungeons as guards appeared at the other end of the corridor, heading towards them. Startled, she came to an abrupt halt before realising it was Allan, Will, and Much. A wave of nausea came over her and she reached out to hold the wall, taking in a deep breath.
"We've got you." Djaq and Alice reached her a moment before Allan, whose blue eyes were wide with shock and worry.
"What's happened? Has someone hurt you?" Taking in her face, his expression changed to anger. "What the hell, Ro?"
She shook her head, then wished she hadn't. "It's alright. I'm alright. I had an encounter with William. It's left me feeling a little lightheaded."
"You what?" He went to draw his sword, his features taut with rage. "He hit you? Where is he?"
Rallying, Roana touched his arm. "Allan, it's alright. Alice knocked him out. He won't be any trouble. We need to rescue Robin and get out of here."
He nodded once, reluctantly backing down, yet his eyes still simmered. "Djaq, can you take Ro out of here and we'll meet you at the castle gates."
Djaq stepped forward to take her arm but Roana shook her head. "Thanks, Djaq, but I'll be fine. Honestly. Now, come on before the actual guards find us."
Little John lead the way, armed with the key ring, and they hurried down to the lower level. The dungeons were empty apart from the furthest cell, where Robin was shackled to the grimy wall inside, his arms raised high above his head so he had to stand on his tiptoes. Other than the awkward position, he seemed unharmed and in a surprisingly upbeat mood.
"You lot took your time!"
"Master!" Relief was written all over Much's face. "We came as quickly as we could."
John fumbled with the keys in the dim light and managed to unlock the cell door. Much surged inside. "Quick, John. Quick!"
There came a tumult of activity at the top of the steps, and Allan, Will, and Djaq drew their swords, preparing for battle. Allan glanced at Roana.
"Get behind us. Alice, look after her."
Roana and Alice obeyed, joining Robin as he came out of the cell, rubbing his wrists and shaking his hands to encourage blood circulation.
"What happened to you?" he exclaimed, looking at Roana. "I've been locked up yet you're in worse condition. How can that be?"
"William." One word seemed to explain it all as Robin nodded in comprehension, and the movement on the steps advanced into the dungeon, halting further discussion.
It was Gisborne, sword drawn and ready for battle. His eyes were wild, yet he looked past Robin and the other outlaws and seemed to focus on Alice only, his gaze imploring.
The gang prepared themselves, Much and Little John moving from the cell to join Allan, Will, and Djaq. Gisborne ignored them, and he seemed to be alone.
"Alice, come away from there." His voice was deep and mournful.
The outlaws looked from Gisborne to Alice and then at each other in puzzlement. Guy's attention was fixed on the maid, but she refused his order.
"I'm helping my friends." Her voice was quiet but firm.
"Robin, let's go," Allan said, seeing a chance to escape.
Gisborne glanced at Robin and then back at Alice, who drew herself up, holding his gaze defiantly. Roana stared at her former maid and friend in shock as Robin and Much began to shepherd them past Gisborne and towards the steps. As she reached Guy, Alice stopped by his side, her hand slipping free of Roana's arm.
"Alice, are you coming?" Roana asked, pausing.
Alice looked at her then up at Guy, and she shook her head, shyly. It was then that it dawned on Roana - they were in love! Alice and Gisborne! She was aghast, and couldn't help but stare at them as Allan chivvied her up the steps, a protective hand at her waist. Alice had the grace to look embarrassed, but had moved even closer to Guy.
"Well, I certainly didn't expect this, Gisborne," Robin said, unable to resist a last dig. "You went to all that trouble to catch me, and now you're just letting us walk out of here. Where are the guards?"
"Master!" Much warned and Gisborne shot an angry glance in Robin's direction, raising his sword. Alice placed a small, white hand on his black leather-encased arm, and he stilled.
"I suggest you get out of here while you can, Hood," Guy growled. "Before I change my mind."
Robin raised his eyebrows and smirked, then gave an offhand shrug.
"Fair enough. I suppose I should thank you, then. But I'm not going to."
"Robin!" Will said, urgently, from halfway up the steps. "We are leaving! Now!"
Leaving Gisborne and Alice stood together, quietly, in the dim lighting of the dungeons, the outlaws escaped.

******

Marian was waiting outside the castle gates, mounted on her grey mare. She was both worried and impatient in equal measures, and had been ever since Allan appeared in her bedroom at Locksley Manor. Arriving at the castle keep to witness the gallows being erected in the upper bailey had been a huge shock; the knowledge that they were there for Robin was devastating. She desperately wanted to head straight to the dungeons and find him, but it was too risky. She could jeopardise his life, as well as her own, by jumping in too soon, and she trusted the gang to succeed without her. But it didn't make the wait any easier.
In the meantime, she decided to commandeer the Sheriff's attention to prevent him from going anywhere near the dungeons. By a pure stroke of luck, he was with the jailer, deep in discussion about the best way to torture the whereabouts of the Black Knights silver out of Robin before they hung him. Marian listened with barely-concealed horror. She was fully aware of the silver's resting place, and knew with all of her heart that Robin would not betray the location to Vaisey; he would rather die, and that was a concern. Marian knew with certainty that, if their rescue mission failed, Robin was as good as dead.
Partway through the discussions, Alice, Roana's former maid, had entered with refreshments. Placing a tray laden with fruit, bread, cheese, and a flagon of wine onto the table, she had appeared to stumble, and fell awkwardly against the jailer, who drew back from her with a start.
"Ooh, she's falling for you," the Sheriff had sneered, with his odd sense of humour.
Flustered, Alice had inclined her head to the jailer in apology before hurrying out of the room with a quick glance at Marian, who blinked at her then shot a look at Vaisey. It appeared that she was the only other person in the room who had noticed the extremely surreptitious sleight of hand as Alice had slipped the jailers key ring off his belt and hid it within her skirts.
Pleased, Marian helped herself to some grapes and settled down, meaning to keep the two men talking for a short while longer, and so give the gang a better chance of getting to Robin. From what she could gather, he was so far unhurt, which eased her mind a little. Yet, she longed to see him again; longed to get away from the Sheriff's toxic presence.
Marian's father had imbued her with a depth of knowledge and often encouraged her opinionated nature, at least in private. Yet, it had improved her skills as a conversationalist, and she was able to entertain the Sheriff and the jailer for a good while. It was difficult, having to listen to their plotting, and the detailed description of the bloodshed the jailer would inflict on Robin. Although not of a delicate nature, she loved Robin, and the thought of him in pain at the hands of these men caused her to feel deep despair.
It was with great relief that she eventually made her excuses and left the castle, making straight for the stables to retrieve her mount. Surely the plan had been accomplished by now, and her heart leapt into her mouth at the sight of the outlaws, approaching with haste from the direction of the keep. Allan and Will were still in chainmail, and Roana's face was swollen and red. But Marian ignored all of this as her eyes alighted on Robin, who looked better than he ever had before, even coated in grime from the dungeon walls.
He reached her and his face broke into a grin as he placed a hand on her mare's neck and looked up at her. "Marian."
"You're alright then?" She tried to keep her tone cool but the smile on her face belied her.
He made to speak and then faltered, stumbling against the horse's side, and that was when she noticed the blood staining the back of his tunic.
"Robin!" Both Much and Roana started forward in alarm, and Much grabbed him, looking around wildly.
"Much, I'm alright," Robin managed, his voice strained. "My back, though. It needs treating."
"Get up! Get up!" Marian was unable to hide the alarm in her voice as she held out a hand to him, and Much and Little John struggled to help him climb up onto the mare's hindquarters.
"Take me to Second Chance," Robin said, wearily, wrapping his arms around her waist.