robinsociety | An Eye for an Eye, ch 9/?

Title: An Eye for an Eye, Chapter Nine
Author: Whytewytch4
Word Count: 1602
Rating: MA++ for graphic slash sex
Characters: Guy, Vasey, Robin, Allan, Much. Guy/Robin
Disclaimer: Characters belong to BBC and Tiger Aspect. No money being made, I write them for the pure enjoyment (and the occasional nice comment or two--hint, hint...)
A/N: What if Guy's family had stayed in Locksley, and he had been given his position through right of inheritance rather than being appointed by Vasey? What if his vassel lord, Robert of Huntingdon, was a real pain in the...well, anyway.
Summary: Vasey threatens Guy. Robin hatches a plan to help his lover.
Beta help: Many thanks to jagnikjen* for her beta help. Any persistent mistakes are purely mine.
**To view the whole story, click on the link on the left of the page, as per robinfanatic* 's suggestion. I had the heck of a time trying to link the chapters, so this was the best I could do.

Vasey turned to Guy. “Well, what news?”

“Nothing yet, My Lord. Sherwood is dense, there are many hiding places.”

Vasey frowned. “I want my money, Gisbourne. Someone has it—either the outlaws or those two nobles. Find it.”

“This is an outrage.” Wilford’s voice bellowed through the hall. “It’s bad enough that you did not find the thieves who robbed me, but now Stoke, too? You are the sheriff, My Lord Vasey. It is your job to bring these criminals to justice.”

Vasey glared at Lord Wilford over his tented fingers before thrusting himself out of his chair.

“You would do well to remember that I am the sheriff, Wilford. I could have you arrested for not paying your taxes.”

Wilford blanched. “But, My Lord, the outlaws…”

Vasey waved a dismissive hand. “Figments of your imagination. A plot between you and Stoke to get out of paying your taxes.”

The two men in question turned even paler before letting themselves out of the hall.

Vasey turned to Guy. “Well, what news?”

“Nothing yet, My Lord. Sherwood is dense, there are many hiding places.”

Vasey frowned. “I want my money, Gisbourne. Someone has it—either the outlaws or those two nobles. Find it.”

“Yes, My Lord.” Guy hurried from the hall, deciding to speak to the nobles and see if they could remember anything else about the outlaws.

---»---»---»---»

Allan and Robin sat on the ground in a clearing in Sherwood, grinning like children and running their hands through the copious pile of coins. Much stalked around the outskirts of the clearing, his gait jerky, eyes searching the forest around them and on the other side of the little stream.

“Not a bad haul, eh?” Robin asked.

“I’ve done more for less,” Allan replied, palming a coin.

“Back in the pile, A’Dale.” Robin grabbed Allan’s arm before the hand could make it back to his body and Allan grinned.

“Can’t blame a fella fer tryin’.”

“I can. I need to be able to trust you, Allan. Can I trust you?”

“Well of course you can’t trust him,” Much declared, still scanning the forest. “He’s a thief.”

“Oy! So are you, now, mate.”

Robin looked seriously at Allan.

“Yeah. You can trust me, Robin.”

“Good. Now we’ve only got another two days until Camston arrives. Let’s stash this and be about our business.”

“How are you getting all this information?” Much kept his nervous watch while Allan and Robin hid the money.

Robin winked. “A man never kisses and tells, Much.” Allan chuckled at Robin’s innuendo.

“Can we just get out of here?” Much stared uneasily at the darkening forest.

“Of course. Let’s go, fellas.” Robin led the way out of the forest, with Allan following behind and Much bringing up the rear.

---»---»---»---»

Guy’s interview with the nobles had turned up nothing, save that there had been three men, who claimed a virtual army was hiding in the forest. He decided it might be best to see that Camston was escorted into Nottingham. The sheriff had made no bones about the fact that this noble—and his taxes—had better arrive in Nottingham unscathed. Gathering his men, he rode to meet the noble, hoping to catch him before any outlaws did.

---»---»---»---»

Robin tossed and turned, his body craving the feeling of Guy’s next to him, inside of him. It had only been three days; Guy had said it could be a full fortnight before they could meet again. Robin wondered how in the world he would last another eleven nights at this rate. He decided to ride to Guy’s house to see if he was there.

---»---»---»---»

Guy shifted restlessly on his bedroll, his body burning with need. He threw off the covers and strode to the cover of the trees, seeking privacy to find relief. His own hand was not what he wanted, and despite his body’s relief, his soul craved the closeness of his lover. He had a bad feeling about the outlaws, as he remembered his last conversations with Robin. He had told Robin when the nobles would be arriving, and earlier, Robin had said he would get Guy the money for his taxes. Guy hoped he was wrong, that Robin was not involved in the thefts; all he wanted was to get the sheriff off of his back and climb back into the safety of Robin’s embraces.

---»---»---»---»

Locksley manor was silent, its inhabitants asleep for the night. Robin climbed up the side of the manor, peering through the slats of the window to the master bedroom. He could see clearly into the room, but was disappointed to see no Guy. He knew Guy was at Nottingham, but he had hoped…

A movement caught his eye as someone entered the room—Marian. His breath caught as he watched her slip off her slippers. A maid entered the room and unhooked Marian’s dress, helping her mistress out of the covering and placing it on a hook in the wardrobe. Marian sat and the girl stood behind her, removing the combs from her dark hair and placing them on the table. The servant took up a brush and began running it through Marian’s hair, scalp to tips, scalp to tips, one hundred strokes.

Robin was still aroused from his earlier dreams of Guy, but at one time he had thought he would be wed to Marian. Now, as he watched this intimacy between her and her attendant, he hardened even more. The handmaiden gave Marian a draught that had just arrived from the cook, then helped her mistress to the bed. Robin watched in rapt attention as Marian climbed in and settled under the covers.

The girl blew out the candle and let herself out of the room after banking the fire. Robin continued to spy by the light of the dying fire until he was sure Marian was asleep. He desperately wanted to creep into her room and take her, but felt disloyal to Guy at the thought. On silent feet, he climbed back down the side of the house and slinked away.

---»---»---»---»

It was midday when Guy and his men came upon Lord Camston and his retinue. Camston reined in his chestnut stallion as Guy held up his hand; Guy noted that Camston’s men immediately reached for their swords.

“I am Sir Guy of Gisbourne, Lord of Locksley, in service to Vasey, Sheriff of Nottingham,” he greeted formally.

“Sir William Beaufort, Lord of Camston,” the noble returned. “How may we help you, Sir Guy?”

“I have actually come to offer aide to you, Lord Camston. We have recently been having a problem with outlaws—both Lord Wilford and Lord Stoke have been robbed on their way to Nottingham. We wish to avoid the same fate for you.”

“Your help would be most appreciated, Sir Guy. Shall we?” Camston spurred his horse forward and the group was once more on the move.

---»---»---»---»

Robin, Much, and Allan waited in the woods for the last of the nobles to ride up. A bird called, and Robin whirled, coming face to face with Will, the older of Dan Scarlett’s two living sons. Dan had built much of Locksley, and his sons, particularly Will, showed promise of a talent that at least matched their father’s; Will’s talent would likely surpass the old man’s in time. For now, the quiet young man was staring at Robin, a hatchet in his hand.

“Will! You nearly scared me to death. What are you doing here?”

“Fetching some wood. What are you doing, Lord Bonchurch?”

“Fetching something else. You should go.”

Just then, they heard the jingle of tack on the road, and the first of Camston’s retinue appeared around the bend. Will’s eyes widened as he watched Robin and the other two men cover their faces and raise hoods over their heads.

“You must tell no one, Will. No one. Do you understand?”

Will nodded mutely as he watched the men nock their arrows and step into the road.

“Halt!” Robin cried. The horses stopped, all except for one, and Robin stared in mute horror as Guy rode to the head of the party. He had to catch himself from calling out Guy’s name.

Guy leaned lazily forward in his saddle. “You would be best to be on your way, outlaw. You are outmanned.”

“We got lots o’ men in the forest.” Robin decided to brazen it out, altering his voice and accent so Guy wouldn’t know it was him. If he didn’t get his hands on Camston’s money, Guy would suffer.

“Really? Call them out.” Guy had no choice. If Camston didn’t make it to Nottingham unscathed, the sheriff would punish him. Guy shuddered at the thought of what that punishment might entail.

Robin swallowed. Somewhere in the back of his mind, a little voice had said to him that it was only a matter of time before someone called his bluff.

“They’re desperate men. I ain’t responsible for wot they do if they come out from the trees.”

“Call them.” Guy’s voice was low and dangerous. If this was Robin, he would pay dearly the next time Guy got his hands on him.

Robin turned, looking at the others, shrugging while he motioned with his eyes toward the forest. They would make a run for it. They darted for the safety of the trees, but one of Camston’s men was faster, loosing an arrow that scratched along Robin’s side before coming to rest in the trunk of a tree. Robin kept running, thankful that they didn’t have dogs to track him by the blood that was starting to drip down his side.