Faith Hope and Charity

Allan felt Niamh's hand on his arm. ' I have something to tell you' She said quietly.
They sat down together in the stables.
' I could have said all this earlier'. she said. ' I feel as though it's my fault that My Lady was caught......but I never thought there might be anything in it..........'.

Allan held her. His lips soft against her temple. ' I'm sure that you're the last person in the world responsible for what happened'. He murmured tenderly.
' But you can help us to find out who did mean to harm her. What have you got to tell me ?' He smiled in encouragement. No sign of the cheeky rogue now. He could be quite the gentleman when he chose.

' It's that stable boy Matthew. I remember you telling me how he and his friends once helped you and Robin's gang to foil the Sheriff's creating of some armour........
And how they were given tags to make them gang members.
Well. Not long before My Lady's problems started I saw him running into the forest a good many times.
It might have been nothing more than play of course. But what if Hood has been asking the child for information to help him against My Lord. He's already tried to do it once through My Lady hasn't he ?'

Her voice rose in pitch a fraction with panic. ' She felt Allan's arms squeeze her reassuringly.
' I wish I could say that none of that made any sense'. He said gently 'and at one time
there's no way Rob would've used a child like that. Since Marian's death though.
It's all too likely. He has it in for Giz in a big way and I reckon he'll stop at nothing. Especially now he's seen there's someone Giz really loves'.
He kissed her happily ' Well done babes. You've given me a good solid lead there.'
And then he grinned. The cheeky chappie again. ' I'll give you a proper thank you later eh ?'
And he blew her a kiss and a wink before departing.
He sought out little Matthew. This was one matter that he would not be telling Giz about for certain.
The fact that he was just a child would cut no ice with the dark lord of Loxley if the boy had been innocently helping Robin.

Matthew was washing Gaius and trimming his hair. The stallion clearly liked him and was standing with infinite patience during his ablutions.

' Alright there Matthew ?' Allan chirped. ' Hello'. The boy replied warily. Allan was a traitor to his hero Robin and to be handled with caution.
' Can we talk. You know. Man to man ?' Allan asked. ' The child was charmed at this tone of respect. ' Alright then'. He sighed. ' But Robin's warned me I can't trust you'.

Oh yes. Allan would have bet his life that he had. ' It's actually Robin I want to talk about. And Lady Gisborne. Do you know what Lady G's been doing here Matthew ?' He asked solemnly. Matthew did. ' But Sir Guy has done such bad things that he doesn't deserve someone like that. Does he ?'

' What about second chances ?' Allan asked. In earnest now. ' What about ' The joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents' ? What about your family and your friends families. Won't they be better with a Lord who has someone who wants to help him be a better man ? And you know what ? Lady Giz is really persistent about getting Sir Guy away from the Sheriff.' He grinned and Matthew chuckled.

' Robin's your hero isn't he Matthew?' Allan asked and the child nodded with a smile.
' That's fantastic'. Allan went on. ' He's a good man and every boy needs a good strong hero. The thing is though..........I don't think Robin.......I don't think he's very well at the moment. He loved Lady Marian. And since she died.........He hasn't been thinking about things as well as usual'.
Gradually, patiently Allan drew from Matthew the information of how Robin had asked for his help.
He'd reminded the child of how Guy had behaved to Matthew and his friends and to the local people in general. And now he had killed Lady Marian.
' He needs to be punished Matthew'. He'd said. ' He needs to know the pain of seeing the one you love suffer.
Now that you're working at Loxley. You can be my spy. Let me know of anything I can use against him............'
And that had been the start of it. Matthew had told Robin about Lady Gisborne's plans and how she would be punished if the Sheriff knew about it.

The boy's eyes filled with tears. ' I was really sorry that she was flogged. My Mother says she's the best thing to have come to Loxley since Robin came home.'

He looked up at Allan eyes full of concern now. ' Is Sir Guy letting Lady Gisborne help him to be better ?'

Allan ruffled Matthew's hair. ' Hard as it is to believe. Yes he is. They're never going to make him a saint of course but actually he's not quite so bad as Robin says.
He just needs someone to steer him onto the right path'.

He held out a hand. ' Shall we shake on a deal to give our help to Lady Gisborne as well as Robin then ?' He smiled as Matthew though for a moment and then shook the proferred hand. ' Deal'. He answered.

Alan heaved a sigh. Now what should he do ? Tell Guy and he was as near as dammit responsible for Robin's death.
he shuddered to think of what painful torturous end his Lord would think up. The crucifixion he had threatened before was not to be ruled out.

No he needed a more reasonable pair of ears to speak into. Cherchez La femme.
He decided and went to see Charity.

Her back was healing well and Charity was getting a little tired of still being mollycoddled but had agreed to humour Guy for a couple more days.
She was working on a tapestry. It depicted in Latin St Paul's 'Three Greatest things'

Fides , Spes , Caritas. Maioribus illorum est Caritas. ( Faith, Hope, Charity. The greatest of these is Charity).

And their symbols of a cross for Faith, an anchor for Hope and for Charity ( another word for Love) Guy's wolfs head emblem and for herself a red rose. With their entwined initials. Alan knocked on the open door. ' Come on in Alan'. She smiled.
' Nice work'. He commented. ' It's for our bedroom wall'. she replied. 'It has kept me occupied and My Lord from worrying whilst I have been healing.
But I must confess I am more than ready for a little exercise. I'm as stiff as a board'.

'Come and have a walk in the garden with me'. Allan offered. I need your advice about something'.

So they walked side by side through the manor grounds and Allan told Charity all he'd just learned about Robin.

' I just don't know how to deal with it. It was a b***dy awful thing he did. But Giz would kill him and I don't reckon he deserves that'.

Charity pondered for a while. ' He has to leave'. She said eventually. ' I won't lie to My lord for him. But neither will I be his death.
Give me a few moments Allan. Then I'd like you to take me to see this Robin'.

Will saw his old friend approaching and jumped out onto the path in a temper.
' You've got a nerve. Showing your face'. He brandished his axe in a way that showed he could do serious damage with it if need be'.

' I asked Allan to bring me'. Charity said firmly. ' I need to speak to Robin Hood. I assure you it is in his interest to speak with me.
Or is he too cowardly to face a Lady he has had beaten and imprisoned'.

Will looked at her. ' Look. We all tried to talk him out of that. But he was dead set. Said it would destroy Gisborne............Follow me and I'll get him him to talk to you'.

Having been told that Lady Gisborne knew that he had informed on her Robin could do little more than appear before her to save face.

' Good day to you My Lord Earl'. Charity greeted him with a curtsey. 'Despite what you have done to me Sir. I cannot see you killed and that is what my husband will want to do to you. For I will not lie or keep secrets from him.
So I have a proposition for you.'
She held out a letter with the Gisborne seal and a gold cross set with rubies.
' Go to my Father in Clitheroe. The cross belonged to my late Mother and it is my token to show that I sent you. The letter asks that he will find work for you.
When it is safer for you here. I will send word.
I urge you to take my offer and be gone from here before My Lord returns from Nottingham.
For when he does he will be told that you are the culprit he has searched for and if you are here still then you will die.'

Robin looked at his friends. ' I don't want to look as though I'm running away from Gisborne.' No one had anything to say. The gang had been against the plan all along and involving an innocent child had only made it worse.

' You ought to consider it Robin'. Little John patted his shoulder. ' If only until it's safer for you to come back. Better for you to be away from her and alive than in a grave here'.

Allan and Charity returned to the Manor and later a message was sent by Will to say that Robin had left for Lancashire.


Guy returned home that evening to be met by Allan at the stables. ' It was Robin'.
He was told.

' I knew it !' Guy slapped a hand against the stable wall. ' And what low life has been giving him the information. I'll have them flayed alive'.

' I've not been able to find that out'. Allan stalled nervously. ' Right then'. Guy said ominously. ' Get all the staff and the village together'. Someone had better confess or they all suffer.'

' No Guy...Wait...please'. It was Charity pink from having run from the house with Niamh in tow.

' I know who it was that told Hood. ' So. Tell me'. Guy said sternly.
' No'. Charity answered boldly. 'There are things it's better for you not to know'.

Guy glowered at her. ' Allan, Niamh. Go. Lady Gisborne and I need a quiet word'. His expression did not bode well.

Niamh looked scared for her mistress but Allan tugged her elbow. ' Come on. Best not to argue'. And led her away.

' I thought you vowed to obey me Madame ?' Guy asked coldly. Charity bowed her head. ' Yes My Lord'.
' Then why have you defied me in front of our servants ?'

Charity drew a shuddering breath raising an accusing face. ' Because the informant was a child My Lord.
An innocent child tricked by a man he thought of as a hero. To give information against a master he fears.

And I can see why. Would you have me throw a child upon your mercy ? When I know he will receive none ?

I will tell you something else and if it will make you feel any more of a man you can beat me as Vasey did.
I sent Robin away. Though I will not tell you where. What he did to me was shabby
and unworthy of a gentleman.
But deserving of the death you would give him ? Never.

You murder for Vasey My Lord ' All fear swept away she faced him with superb disdain. ' I would not have you murder for me.

Punish me if you will. In front of the servants for all I care. But it will serve no good purpose'.

Guy said nothing. Just turned and stalked out of the stables. And out of the estate.
Leaving Charity dissolving into noisy graceless tears.

TBC