Chapter Text
The carriage creaked and rustled coming into the village of Locksley. Jennie sat in silence as her soon-to-be husband bantered with the guard in the carriage with them. She preferred these moments, truthfully. She would rather be ignored by him than the other way he interacts with her. She always knew him to be violent. Even as a young man back in Northampton, he was always hotheaded and unlikely to take no for an answer. They grew up in the same village, and her father was the local blacksmith.
The first time she turned him down, she was 15 and he was 25. Jennie had no interest in marrying back then, but especially to Arthur. He was livid at her rejection. He nearly broke her wrist, twisting it as she struggled to get away. Shortly after, her home burned down, leaving her an orphan. Of course, she couldn’t prove it was Arthur’s doing, in a scheme to get her on her own and have her running into his arms, but she always had a gut feeling he had something to do with it.
Alas, a friend of the Allstons were in the market for a servant at their estate in a neighboring village. They were able to take her in, in exchange for her service to them- until she became a wife. They were horrible people. She slept on a straw pile, covered by a wool blanket, like a dog. They never expressed gratitude for her service or treated her as part of the household. She was purely an employee, paid only in a roof over her head and whatever was left over from her cooking. And of course, Arthur was there, pestering her frequently, berating and hurting her any time she shrugged him off. Then one day, she learned that she had been sold to Arthur as a bride. He had paid 100 pounds to free her from servitude, under the condition to marry. She was horrified and planned on running away, somehow. But just a mere couple months later, here they were, arriving to Locksley for dinner with the Sheriff’s right hand man before their wedding in Nottingham on Saturday.
The carriage came to a stop, with the doors opening for them to step out. Arthur emerged first, walking up to the man dressed in all black standing in front of a large manor. Jennie followed meekly behind.
“Sir Guy, hello. My cousin tells me we may stay here for the night before our arrival in Nottingham tomorrow.” Arthur reached his hand out towards the man to shake.
“Yes, the Sheriff has asked me to have quarters prepared for you. Welcome to Locksley, Lord Allston. And congratulations, both of you. I hear the wedding is on Saturday.” He smiled, looking between the man and woman.
“Yes.” He tightly pulled Jennie into him, gripping her shoulder. “We’ve been so looking forward to it, haven’t we?” He looked to the woman, uncomfortably looking toward the ground. He squeezed tighter.
“Yes, I have been blushing for days.” She forced a smile.
“Well, you have had a long journey. Please, come relax. I will have dinner prepared for you. I hope you don’t mind; I’ve invited a couple guests to join us.”
** Evening **
After a bath and some time to rest, Jennie and Arthur made their way back downstairs for dinner. Standing by the doorway with Guy were a young, beautiful woman dressed in green, and an older gentleman. Guy noticed the couple approaching, turning to acknowledge them.
“Lord Allston, this is Lady Marian of Knighton, and her father, Edward, the Lord of Knighton Manor. They will be joining us.” Guy gestured to Marian seated beside him. “Lord Allston is the Sheriff’s cousin. The Sheriff has graciously offered the castle for him and Jennie to be wed in.”
“Congratulations. You must be so thrilled.” Marian smiled between the two of them in front of her.
Jennie barely looked up for more than a second, flashing a half-hearted smile. Marian’s browns downturned slightly. She could tell something was not quite right.
“Yes, we’re just buzzing with excitement, aren’t darling?” Arthur looked at Jennie, who feigned a bigger smile. “We’ve been sweethearts for quite some time now. Since childhood, really.” He chuckled, while Jennie side-eyed him.
Marian maintained her polite smile. “Oh, that’s beautiful.” She took a breath. “Well, shall we eat before the food goes cold?” She gestured to the table.
As they went about the meal, she made polite conversation, trying to ask questions of Jennie to get more of a read. Arthur kept speaking over her and interrupting. It was obvious that Jennie did not love this man. But she sensed there was something more sinister at play. Jennie, though she was playing the part of the demure fiancé of this brute of a man, was astute. She knew Marian was suspicious and concerned. Jennie cleared her throat as she moved to tuck hair behind her ear. Marian glanced down to the young woman’s neck, seeing that Jennie was revealing to her a series of bruising against the side of her next. Perfectly finger shaped. Marian’s eyes darted up to meet Jennie’s as they held the other’s gaze. He was abusing her. She had to get her away from the men to talk with her.
“Jennie,” Marian interrupted the men speaking. “Have you sorted out your something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue?”
“Oh, I- “ Jennie was cut off by Arthur.
“She is to have my mother’s ring, that’s the old-“
“Excuse me, my lord, I was speaking to Jennie.” Marian smiled. Arthur glared a moment before nodding.
“Uh, yes. Arthur plans to present his late mother’s wedding ring. My dress will be new. Flowers will be blue. I haven’t figured out what I may be able to borrow.” Jennie chuckled.
“Oh, well let me help with that! I’d be happy to lend you anything that will make your day all the more special.” Marian looked between the guests in front of her.
Jennie smiled. “That’s so kind of you, Lady Marian. But I couldn’t possibly-“
“I insist. Please, come to Knighton tomorrow morning. We can find you something lovely.” Marian smiled.
Jennie nodded. The two women held each other’s gaze for a moment before going back to their meal. It was understood that Marian was to offer her help.
** Knighton Hall, next morning **
Marian stood in the doorway, watching several guards and a carriage ride up to her home. She was confused to see such an entourage for what surely should have been seen as a women’s matter. The group came to a stop, and two guards came around to help Jennie exit the carriage, followed shortly by Arthur.
“Lord Allston, Jennie.” Marian smiled. “To what do I owe the pleasure of this amount of company?” She eyed the three guards behind the couple.
Arthur cleared his throat. “I never go anywhere without my guards, nor do I allow Jennie to travel without one. For safety, of course.”
Marian fought to keep her brows from showing her confusion. “Well, my lord. I do not intend any offense, but I was hoping to have had some alone time with Jennie. Unless you would also enjoy taking a look at my personal garments?”
Arthur straightened up. “N-no, my lady. I uh…I’ll just wait down here.”
Marian smiled before turning to Jennie. “Please, let me show you to my room.”
The two women disappeared up the stairs to Marian’s quarters, shutting the door behind them. Jennie stood in the middle of the room, glancing around at the ornate items around her. She wondered how nice it must be to have such a privileged life, to have things of your own. Marian’s speaking quickly pulled her from her thoughts.
“Now, we don’t have much time… What is going on? What has he done to you?” She asked, taking Jennie by the shoulders.
Jennie took a deep breath, pushing her hair off her neck to show the bruises once again. “He is not a nice man, Marian…”
Marian frowned, taking Jennie by her shoulders to guide her toward the bed to sit. “How did you end up with him?”
Jennie shrugged. “I didn’t have much of a choice… I was a servant, an orphan… he had been after me for years, and he named a decent price.”
“You were purchased?” She asked horrified.
Jennie nodded. “But…I…I have a plan.” She didn’t look up to Marian, keeping her gaze forward. “After the wedding…I’m going to kill him…when he’s asleep. And I’ll go to France, I’ll start over, make a life for myself, I-I-I’ll be someone, I-“
Marian gently placed her hand on Jennie’s shoulder. “Arthur seems like a terrible man, but…does he deserve to die?”
Jennie sighed, lowering her head. “No…” She looked back to Marian. “But what can I do? I have no choice.”
“What if I could help you?”
She furrowed her brow. “How?”
“Well, my friends and I. Robin Hood-“
“You know Robin Hood?!”
Marian smiled. “I can have him meet you in tonight in the castle.”
“Arthur will be sure to have guards all around, making sure I stay. I’ve already tried to run.” She grimaced, remembering the punishment she endured for that. “They switch off at half midnight. He’ll have a few moments then.”
** Midnight, Nottingham Castle**
Three men quietly stalked up to the castle, peaking through the brush at the edge of the forest. Under the torches lining the outside walls, the outline of guards could be seen.
“I’m not bein’ funny, but what do we ‘ave to do with this random girl? I mean, people marry people they don’t love all the time.”
The two others turned to look at the tall, ginger-haired man at the back.
“Allan.” Will warned.
“What?! I’m just sayin’.”
“Shh.” Robin held his hand out towards his men. “Stay focused.”
He motioned to the group, signaling them to move forward. They slipped down the hill toward the gate, staying below the tall grass, moving in three separate directions. The plan was to take the guards by surprise, donning their uniform, and slipping inside when the relief came to switch off. As they reached the beginning of the torch’s glow, they paused.
“Now!” Robin shouted, as the three jumped over on to the boardwalk leading to the gate.
The four surprised guards were no match for the skilled outlaws. Within a matter of minutes, the guards were splayed around the gate. The men worked quickly to strip the Sheriff’s men of their armor to dress themselves, depositing their limp bodies over the edge of the boardwalk.
Within minutes, the gate began to rise. The outlaws smirked at each other from beneath their helmets.
“Oi, you’re off.” A deep, gruff voice sighed, coming through the threshold. “Where’s the other one?” He asked, noticing only three.
“He erm…bad stew for supper. Went runnin’ off to the privy, poor sod.” Allan chuckled.
“Pfft.” The guard waved his hand, taking his position on the left side of the gate.
The outlaws nodded to the guards, slipping inside the walls of Nottingham, as the gate closed behind them.
Robin chuckled. “Too easy.”
They made their way through the castle, heading to the guests’ quarters. Marian had visited Jennie in the castle earlier, under the guise of returning a forgotten object at Knighton Hall and was able to find out where exactly her chamber was. The three arrived outside the door, met with another guard. The outlaws looked to one another, all of them thinking the same thing. Without a word, they sprung upon the guards, knocking them unconscious. The commotion outside caught Jennie’s attention from her spot on her bed. Clutching her dagger, she walked hastily to the door, flinging it open. She plunged the blade out in front of her before stepping through the threshold.
“Whoa, whoa!” The outlaws jumped back, putting their hands up.
“Hey, we’re here to help you!” Robin removed his helmet. “I am Robin Hood, Marian sent me.”
Jennie sighed in relief, lowering the dagger to her side. “Well, you lot certainly make quite an entrance.” She stepped aside from the doorway. “Quick, inside. Before someone sees you.”
The men hurried inside, Jennie looking both ways down the corridor before closing the door behind her. She turned to face them, leaning her back against the heavy wood. She looked at the men before her. Dirty, tired, glistening with sweat. She didn’t know what she expected from outlaws, but they were her only hope.
As they looked back at her, they saw a beautiful, resilient young woman. The bruises from her soon-to-be husband still prominent on her neck, with her hair tied up for slumber. She had obviously been through so much. Allan took special notice of her eyes, big and brown, soft, and kind. Despite the battering she had taken at the hands of Arthur, her eyes maintained a light he felt immediately drawn to.
“So, Marian tells me you need help escaping this marriage.”
Jennie sighed. “Desperately, please.”
“Why haven’t you just run?” Robin questioned.
“I’ve tried. Many times. I have no one. No family left. He keeps me locked away and I barely speak to anyone. The times I have gotten away, I’ve had nowhere to go, no plan, so I just…had to go back. Other times, I’ve been caught and he…” She looked down to her feet, swallowing.
“He’s beaten you.” Will finished, somberly.
Jennie nodded. “I don’t understand it sometimes. He’s been infatuated with me for years; he had his sights set on me from the beginning. Yet he’s so cruel and violent with me, even unprovoked. I mean he treats me like an animal. He says it’s just passion but-“ She realized the tangent she was embarking on. She took a breath, running her hand over her face. “I’m sorry.”
“No, I’m sorry. I’m sorry you’ve had to live like this for so long…” Robin shook his head. “But not for much longer. Here’s what we’re going to do; tomorrow morning, we will come to meet you here. Our friend, Djaq, will dress in your gown and veil and she will act as a decoy. Will and I, with another of my men, John, will be in the hall disguised as wedding guests. Allan here will help lead you out of the castle while we create a diversion. Our friend Much will be waiting by the gate with the horses for you.”
“Pfft, how many of there are you?!” Jennie chortled.
Robin chuckled. “Some would argue too many. But I promise, we will all get you away from him, for good.”
Jennie smiled earnestly. “Thank you, Robin. All of you.” She looked to Will and Allan.
Will nodded, while Allan let a gentle grin turn the corner of his lips upward.
Robin took in a breath and looked to his men. “Well lads, we better go get cleaned up.” He smirked. “We’d got a wedding to attend.”