LOG: Rescuing Robin Hood
Felix has arrived here after much searching. He is alone, dressed in a leather jerkin to match his black pants and boots. It is comfortable attire that is meant to be more so functional. He rides along on his horse, Typhon, a great and beautiful horse gifted him by a friend. He rides a road heading right for the forest.
As he rides, he'll pass farmland where people are working dilligently in the fields. A young boy comes running up alongside a fence. "M'lord! You mustn't go in there. You aren't from around here. The people there will rob you blind!"
"I imagine that they will try," Felix answers the boy, offering him a smile. "And I will be ready when they do. Trouble not, young lad. Things will be fine. You should get back to work before your papa gets angry."
The boy seems eager to protest this but glances over to where his papa is walking towards them. He visibly gulps and ducks off to do as he's been told. The father doesn't press the issue and keeps quite a ways away from Felix. Nobles seem to be anathema here.
Felix rides Thyphon along, right into Sherwood forest. He wears a sword on his left hip and on his right is a dagger sheath. Needless to say he's plenty well armed as he makes his way deeper into the woods. He doesn't even seem to be watching the land around him, but he is from the corners of his eyes.
Around a bend in the road is a decrepit looking old man. He's hobbling along, his cloak pulled close and his hood up over his face. A large staff carries him along more so than his own feet do. He is heading right towards Felix.
Seeing the man, and being quite curious, Felix rides up towards him and comes to a stop a few feet from him. "My good man you don't look all that well. May I be of service to you?"
As soon as Felix stops and speaks, the man straightens and throws back his hood, revealing himself to be quite tall. More men spring from the forest with bows drawn, all aimed right at Felix. "You may be of service!" says the big man. "You may give us all your money!"
Felix just smiles at the man, seemingly quite unphased by this turn of events. "And why, pray tell, would I give up my coin to a bunch of common thieves? Or better yet, what will happen when I refuse?"
The big man seems a bit startled by this question. "Well, you'll be forced, naturally!" The other men laugh a bit at this. "No one refuses Robin's Merry Men and gets away with it!"
Felix laughs a bit at this. "I see. Well it would seem that I have found who I am looking for," he says as he leans forward a bit on his horse. "I am not from around here, you see. I'm not even from this country you live in. But, I've come seeking your leader, Robin Hood. May I speak with him?"
The big man seems startled again. "Really now? We've got ourselves a live foreigner!" The men cheer at this and advance in. "I am called Little John. Robin is not here. He's been taken prisoner by Prince John and the Sherrif."
Felix nods a bit at this and in a flash has his dagger out and in his hand. "Now, if I wanted to, I could put this right between your eyes, Little John, but I've no wish to harm you or any of your men. I've come here to request your help, really. You say Robin has been taken prisoner. Perhaps I can help free him."
"Any why should we trust you?" Little John asks as he leans on his staff. "We don't know you, after all."
Felix replies by pulling out a small big and tossing it to the big man. Inside is quite a bit of gold, real gold that hasn't been formed to any shape. "That may help."
John catches the bag and holds it up a moment before he opens it and looks inside. "Well my companions... I think we have a new ally!" John smiles at this and the others start putting away their bows. "But how can you help us when you aren't from around here?"
"Point me in the direction of where Robin is being held. I will make an official visit to this place. Tonight, when the sun sinks below the horizon, cause a disturbance big enough to draw the guards. Robin will be back in Sherwood a little after that," Felix assures the group. "And don't worry about me running away. Robin is my purpose for being here."
"Very well," John says as he walks over. The man stands nearly as tall as the horse that Felix rides upon and might just be taller. "Follow the path. When it meets another, turn to the right. It will take you to Nottingham. You're sure we can trust you?"
Felix pulls out another small bag and hands it to John. This one is full of precious gems. "You can. Now, I'll be going. Remember what I said." The dagger disappears into its sheath and Felix spurs Typhon with a low whistle. The horse starts walking and Felix doesn't look back.
John stares in amazement at the gems in the bag and shows them to Will Scarlet who was also amongst the group gathered. The two speak in low, hushed tones while Felix disappears.
Felix rides along until he meets the cross roads. There, he takes the path that he was told to and continues on riding. It takes a little bit, but eventually he arrives in Nottingham and approaches the castle.
The guards there move up and hold up their hands to signal that he stop. "Halt," they command of him. "State your business here."
Felix slows Typhon to a halt and rubs his neck soothingly. "I am Prince Felix of Belgium," Felix lies. "I've come to seek an audience with your Sherrif and Prince John if I may."
The two look at each other for a moment and then look back at him. "You don't look much like a Prince. How are we to know that's what you are? Especially when you're alone?"
Felix lifts his hand and shows the two a ring which looks quite official. It bears a seal. These two won't know what the seal means. "Will that suffice to satisfy your curiosity?"
The guards look at the ring, nod, and move to open the main gate. A page can be seen running off.
Felix rides Typhon into the castle proper and up towards the main entrance. Once there, he hops down off of the big horse and pats his neck gently. A stable hand appears. "I would like him kept in the finest stall available within the stables, please." The man nods and moves to lead the horse off. Felix heads up to the castle's entry.
Having been alerted by the page, the guards at the door open it for him and Felix steps inside. The Great Hall is rather dark and dreary looking compared to what he may be used to. Laughing can be heard from the room on the left a little ways down the hall.
Felix starts walking down the hall and notices that he's picked up a bit of an honor guard along the way. Two guards have flanked him from behind. He approaches the door.
The two guards move to flank the doorway and turn to become sentries. The door is opened by the former sentries and one of them announces Felix to the room. The Prince at the table stands and opens his arms. "Welcome to England, Prince Felix. Won't you join us for a feast in your honor?"
Felix steps inside, offers the Prince a smile and bows. Even he can see the falseness of the mans actions. "I would be honored, your highness." He walks towards a seat that has become vacated near the Prince and takes a seat.
Prince John sits once again and goes back to feasting. It is the evening meal. There is a large roast pig, turkey, and all the other trimmings. After a moment, John turns to Felix. "So tell me, good prince, what brings you here to Nottingham?"
"Oh, I thought I might like to pay a little visit to such a famous place," Felix says as he reaches over and pulls off a leg of turkey which he sets on his plate. "Even in Belgium we've heard of the exploits of that scoundrel Robin Hood."
John perks up a bit at this. "Oh really? You've... heard of me then?" He looks certainly pleased with himself at this revelation. "He is a troublemaker, that vagabond. Did you know we have him locked in the dungeons here?"
"I did not," Felix answers the man. "I should like to see him so that I can describe the miscreant to my friends and family. Would that be acceptable?" He takes up the turkey leg and takes a large bite out of it. He's apparantly reasonably hungry.
"Of course!" John answers with a hearty, evil laugh. He settles back into his chair at this. "Finish your meal and I'll take you there to see him. We're keeping him in irons. He's to be hung in the morning."
Felix chews on his bite of meat and swallows. "My timing is fortuitous then. I may be the only one from Belgium to ever see him." He smiles what he hopes is an evil smile and goes back to eating.
When the meal is over the sun is nearly down. John leads Felix to the dungeons and right down to where Robin is locked within a cell. "Wake up, Locksley! You've a visitor."
Robin stirs in the cell and looks up towards Felix and John. "Oh, what's this then? You've certainly found a fellow more handsome than yourself, Prince John. I'm sure the people will like him better."
Felix scoffs a bit at this. He has to keep putting up a front.
Just then someone comes running down the stairs. "My Prince! The castle is under attack!" John looks startled at this and turns to Felix. "Please remain safely within the castle while we deal with this." He then turns and heads off, leaving Felix and Robin alone with just the guards.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Robin asks of Felix. "A new person to toy with?"
Felix waits until John is gone and draws out his dagger. He launches it right at one of the guards, catching him right between the eyes. The other stands, startled, but Felix smacks the mans head into the wall before retrieving his dagger. "Robin of Locksley, otherwise known as Robin Hood. I've been looking for you," he says as he moves back over to Robin's cell.
Robin watches in astonishment as the man he thought to be a friend of his enemy takes out the two guards. "Well that was unexpected," he says, looking back to Felix. "Just who are you?"
"I'm Prince Felix of Amber. But for starters, I'm here to rescue you," Felix says as he looks over the cell door. He examines it for a moment before plying his dagger to the pins and sliding them free. "It's a wonder they hold anyone with these doors." He pulls the door off, literally lifting up the iron and wood, and sets it aside. "Your men are causing a distraction for us."
"You're stronger than Little John!" Robin exclaims as he watches Felix. "And you aren't even as big as him! Amazing!" He walks from the cell and clasps Felix on the shoulder. "You will join us in Sherwood, my friend."
"Let's get out of here, first," Felix answers, slightly amused. He allows the man to take the lead.
Robin does take the lead and away they go, through the castle until they come across a couple of guards. Robin walks up and taps one on the shoulder. "Excuse me gentlemen, I was wondering if you could tell me where the stables were." The guard turns and then points down a hall. "You go that w.. Hey wait a minute!" And then he's punched in the face and falls to the floor unconscious. One down, one to go.
Felix takes care of the other. A swift punch to the base of the neck and he crumples easily enough.
Robin nods approvingly and then they set off down the hallway. Eventually they exit into the stables. Robin picks out the Prince's horse. "This should make him sufficiently angry," he says as he mounts up.
Felix finds Typhon and saddles him quickly before mounting him. "You and the Prince don't get along at all. I imagine it's the same with the Sherriff. Shall we ride out in style?"
"Of course!" Robin exclaims, and then he's off, riding right out of the stables. With Felix in tow, they ride right out through the front gate which is open thanks to the efforts of the Merry Men.
Felix follows after the man and the others all fall back once Robin and Felix are out.
Back to Sherwood they go, deep within its confines. They don't stop until they reach a small village. There, Robin leaps down and turns to look at Felix. "So tell me, my good Prince of Amber. What can I do to repay you for your actions?"
Felix follows and dismounts Typhon only when Robin does. He stands near the horse and pets him gently. "I'm in need of your assistance, actually. I was hoping you and your men would come back to Amber with me and assist in dealing with some troubles. My great uncle needs your assistance specifically."
Robin looks quite interested, but frowns at the end. "That is a tall order, my friend. If we were to leave, the Sherriff and Prince John would run amuck. And who would take care of the villagers?"
"That thought did cross my mind," Felix answers with a nod. "I've recruited a few men to act as you all and I suggest you leave a few men to assist them. They should arrive at the edge of the forest in two days."
"You're thorough," Robin says, lifting a hand to scratch his chin. "Will we be paid?"
"Handsomely," Felix answers with a nod.
"Very well then," Robin answers and steps forward to offer his hand. "We have an accord."
Felix smiles and reaches out to shake his hand. "We leave on the morrow."