“I don’t know. He almost killed me," Robin said and Tuck looked worried.
“He’s not the man he was... He’s different. I looked into his eyes! He’s more machine now. They’ve done something to him," Robin went on as Gilbert dressed some of his wounds.
“I’ve never seen anything like that! He looked like a monster!” John said.
“How the hell are we supposed to kill him? The size of that bastard!” Will went on and Robin closed his eyes, shaking his head.
“This is all my fault. All of it. Ranger is dead, our home is destroyed and Marion could die too... All of it is on me. I can’t let it end like this. I won’t,” Robin insisted, Will turning to him incredulous.
“What? What are you gonna do? Fight this man? He’s not even a man anymore! He’s a one man army... and he still has an army as well! How the hell do you expect to beat something like that? Hopes and dreams?” Will asked and Robin shook his head.
“With courage, Will Scarlet," Robin replied.
*****
Marion awoke in a beautiful bedroom. The bed was dressed with white satin sheets, a big screen television and a dressing table with a mirror.
She was dressed in a white gown and had been cleaned up, though for the life of her she couldn’t remember it or how she came to be there. She sat up in the bed, walking across the large room and looking out the open window.
She saw the city skyscrapers below, the streets looking so tiny that they might as well have been for ants. She had no idea how high she was but it was miles above the city streets.
She looked out towards the skyline of rushing flying vehicles, both flying cars and small space cruisers that were entering the system. The door to her room unlocked and she turned to see the sheriff standing there – and he was massive and somewhat odd looking as he had been in the forest.
“Where am I?” Marion asked the beastly man and the sheriff grinned, replying in a deep voice.
“You are at Nottingham castle,” the sheriff replied, standing still in the doorway, glaring at Marion as if he were admiring a peep show.
“What did you do to Robin?” Marion asked and the sheriff smiled another eerie smile.
“I always admired your voice, Marion. You have such a beautiful singing voice,” the sheriff said calmly, ignoring her question.
“I asked you what you did to Robin!” Marion said angrily and the sheriff nodded his head.
“Oh I heard you, Marion. I think however that the question is of little interest to me. You see, right now... I am much more interested in you. Why do you love this... thief, Marion? Tell me... what attracts you to him? Is it his costume? His... bravado? What is it? A girl like you can have... any man she wants, yet you chose this... weak fool who robs the honest wealthy folk of my city. Why?” The sheriff asked and Marion glared at him, her eyes shooting daggers.
“First of all, sheriff... I wouldn’t call the wealthy folk of this city honest, I’d call them greedy. Secondly, Robin Hood is the greatest man I have ever known. He’s charming, he’s funny... and despite the size of you even now, I’d wager his cock is still bigger than yours!” Marion replied, the sheriff striding towards her and seizing her by the throat.
“As much as I’d love to prove you wrong right now, little girl... I have better things to do. I can’t wait for him to come for you! I know he will in time... and when he does, I promise you a front row seat to his decapitation! You will feel his blood splatter across your flesh... and then, when you are inconsolable and shaking as you slowly go mad... then... I will have you! THEN... You can tell me who is the bigger man,” The sheriff said, releasing the sobbing Marion's neck, striding out of the room and slamming the door behind him.
Marion heard the door lock, wiping the tears from her eyes as she walked over to the bed and sat on it. Despite her sadness, Marion also found herself feeling somewhat relieved.
He was alive. Robin was somehow alive. She knew he would be coming for her as well as the sheriff did, but how would Robin defeat this... creature of a man? She lay on the bed staring at the ceiling. The one thing she believed was Robin was coming. He’d fight through hell to get to her, and that was the problem. Marion only hoped Robin’s desire to live was as strong as his desire for revenge. She didn’t particularly want to watch her new husband die just because he was trying to save her.
Outside her window a police cruiser flew past, no doubt checking in on her. The cruisers always patrolled the castle tower. Marion accepted that escape was unlikely, so all she could really do was hope Robin and his men could come up with a plan. As much as she didn’t want Robin to be killed, she didn’t like the idea of being ravaged by the massive sheriff either.
Chapter thirteen: road to vengeance
Robin woke up in the bunker. It had been two days and his wounds were on the mend. He was already growing impatient. If Marion was to be rescued he felt they had to act swiftly.
Robin forced himself to stand, relieved that he seemed to be finding it easier to walk again. He looked around the room where at least ten of his men were still injured and bed ridden. He sighed, walking over to where Friar Tuck, John
