Author’s Note: Some of the dialogue is from the darker alternate ending of the Robin Hood movie. Original content is copyright of Disney. Inspiration is drawn from jefftoon01.

***

“After them!”

Marian followed closely behind Little John, with an unconscious Robin. They ran into the bushes just in time for the guards to miss them.

“They went this way!”

“Let’s get them!”

The guards continued on the path away from the castle, leaving the outlaws to escape farther into the forest. Quietly, Little John motioned Marian to follow him, and they trekked towards their destination. It wasn’t long until they reached the cart where Friar Tuck greeted them.

“I’m glad you are all safe,” Tuck exclaimed with relief.

Little John nodded and replied, “Yeah, but not for long. Prince John’s got his soldiers looking for all of us. We should either go deeper in the forest, or find some other place to hide.”

Friar Tuck’s eyes widened slightly; there wouldn’t be a safe place anywhere. It was too simple to find people in the village, and he figured they would all be found sooner or later in the forest, knowing how many soldiers were after them. But they had to think fast, as he saw Robin Hood’s blood on himself and Little John.

Skippy ran over to the group as Tuck and Little John made quick decisions on where to go. He immediately saw Robin’s body, Marian’s tear-stained face, and everyone’s anxiousness and fear increasing every minute they heard voices in the distance. He took Marian’s hand, and she broke out of her silent trance of staring at the ground.

“Marian…?”

She brought her attention to Skippy and knelt down to his height.

Tears welled up in the young rabbit’s eyes as he struggled with his words. “I-Is…Mr. Robin…is h-he-?”

She hugged him tightly and assured him he was alright. She didn’t want to scare him, or anyone else for that matter, about Robin’s condition. A few moments later, Friar Tuck and Little John came to an agreement to send the townspeople to the church. They would hide in the large cellar, while Robin would be under the care of Marian and Little John. Everyone climbed back into the cart, and Little John pulled as Tuck monitored and pushed from the back.

Marian held onto Robin Hood tightly, and at that point she just wanted him to live. She wanted this horrifying ordeal to be over.

***

The group reached the church shortly afterward. Little John escorted Maid Marian and Robin Hood inside the church, while Friar Tuck ushered the village people into the cellar. Being large, everyone was able to fit comfortably.

Once they were all inside, Friar Tuck gave instructions. “We all must have hope. This is a place of worship, so Prince John’s men shouldn’t be able to come in. I’ll stay by the front doors so no one comes for you, but I have to warn you to try and stay silent. If anyone makes a sound, someone’s sure to hear and find you, and our attempts of escape will be for nothing.”

Skippy stepped towards him with a dagger in his hand. “Wait, Friar,” he said. “Take this…for protection. I’ll keep everyone safe down here and make sure they keep quiet.”

Tuck smiled and nodded. “Thank you…I know you will, son. We’re all counting on you.”

Skippy straightened his hat and took in a deep breath. He was still scared, of course, like everyone else, but he was the person younger children had to look up to. Being seven years old, he felt like he had to mature almost overnight. In reality, he had. His mother and siblings admired him, as well, for his bravery.

Friar Tuck then walked up the stairs and closed the cellar doors, leaving the people with just a single torch lit to keep them out of complete darkness.

***

Close by, Prince John, Sir Hiss, and the Sheriff of Nottingham marched along the path outside the castle. Hiss was leading the way, and so far they had found no clues as to where Robin Hood and the others had fled. Prince John knew that they had to capture and execute him before his brother returned from his crusades.

Hiss suddenly picked his head up from the ground. “Sire, they went this way!”

He had found a trail of blood off of the path, and the three of them followed it until they reached the middle of Sherwood Forest, and they also traced wagon tracks in the mud going toward the forest line. Prince John was grinning as they reached the clearing, for he could see a faint light emanating from one of the village windows.

“Look,” he whispered, “they’ve gone into the church.”

Little John was then seen leaving through the eastern side door, into the forest.

“The fat one has left,” the prince sneered. “Robin Hood will be left alone…” He chuckled, and the three of them crept up to the window to peer inside.

***

Meanwhile, Marian had laid Robin Hood on the straw bed made for them. Little Sister Mouse had aided her in cleaning and bandaging his wound and making him comfortable under a heavy blanket. They had remained quiet until Little John left to get the swamp root oil. Sister had left to get more bandages, so Marian sat with Robin, holding his hand. It seemed like an eternity until he stirred and slowly opened his eyes. He groaned softly, but was happy to see Marian watching over him.

“Marian…” he whispered.

She gasped and kissed him gently. “Robin…! Thank goodness you’re awake!”

He smiled weakly and replied, “I’m alright, my darling. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

“Of course, my love,” Marian wept. “Please, don’t try to move. Little John is getting swamp root oil from the forest, and Friar Tuck is guarding the church doors. We’re all safe here.”

“What about Prince John and his men? Surely they’re after us…”

“They are, but I am sure this will be the last place they will look.”

Robin shook his head slowly. “I’m afraid we will be found no matter where we try to hide. Even if we’re safe here, it’s only a matter of time until they find us.”

He attempted to adjust himself on the bed, but winced in pain. Marian tried to stop him, but he collapsed back before she could.

“Please, Robin, don’t strain yourself.”

“It’s my fault…”

“What?”

Robin looked at her with tired eyes. “If I had planned the escape more thoroughly, we wouldn’t be in this situation. We wouldn’t be hiding, Prince John would have surrendered and wouldn’t be looking for us, and we wouldn’t be in danger…especially you.”

He touched her cheek with a weak hand, and she grasped it tightly.

“That’s not true, Robin,” she cried. “We’re all alive, and almost free! If it wasn’t for you and Little John, we would all still be prisoners, and we would lose to Prince John! Everyone here owes you our lives, including myself!”

She stroked his head as he sighed with discouragement.

He smiled as he looked up at her. “Thank you, Marian…you’re right. I’d be lost without you.”

She smiled back and wiped away her tears. “Get some rest,” she whispered. “We are safe here, and I promise that Prince John will not find us.”

Robin nodded and closed his eyes, still holding Marian’s hand. Marian watched him sleep, but started to wonder why Little John was taking so long to return.

***

Prince John and Sir Hiss looked away from the window as the Sheriff snickered and said, “It’s such a shame this won’t become the happily ever after they hoped for.”

John nodded in agreement, rubbing his hands eagerly. “Indeed, and I will soon be the new king…”

Hiss cleared his throat. “If I may, Your Highness, the friar is guarding the door. How will we get past him if he is unwilling to let us through?” Glancing at the Sheriff, he added, “We won’t want a repeat of what happened…”

The Sheriff bared his teeth, then drew his sword. “He’s gonna let us in once I’m finished with him.”

Hiss’ eyes widened. “First, we planned on hanging him…now you plan on spilling his blood on holy ground?”

The prince grabbed the snake tightly as he growled, “You dare question me, you fool?”

Hiss gulped. “O-Of course not, s-sire…of course not…!”

“Good.” Prince John released him and started walking towards the front of the church. “Now, let us pay them all a visit.”

***

Friar Tuck knew that Prince John and the others were on their way, and he made sure no one was going to come in that wasn’t welcome. He could hear voices through the trees; he determined by how close they sounded that they would be here any minute. He made sure that he kept a sharp eye out for anything suspicious out there, and he kept Skippy’s dagger hidden in his sleeve. He failed to realize, however, that the biggest threats were already at the church.

“Well, well…”

Tuck jumped and pulled the dagger from his sleeve. He noticed the trio of villains approaching the steps.

Prince John laughed. “…And I thought your life would end at the gallows.”

Hiss came up from behind him, smiling, and the Sheriff had his sword drawn, rubbing his thumb along the flat of the blade.

“Stay back!” Friar Tuck shouted. “Don’t come a step closer! I warned you to stay away from my church!”

Prince John glanced at the dagger and gave him a menacing look. “You would dare attempt to murder your new king?”

Tuck snarled, “You’re not the king, and you never will be!”

The prince shook his head and simply replied, “Soon, friar…soon.”

The Sheriff stepped closer, making his brooding figure seem larger. Friar Tuck didn’t want to show it, but he was intimidated. He never would have guessed the bumbling Sheriff of Nottingham would be a serious threat. Tuck was worried he would look weak, and they would kill him right there. But everyone was depending on him; he was the only person between the success or failure of the escape. As his thoughts were scrambling, however, two rhino guards grabbed his arms before he could act. He cried out, twisting and trying to pry himself from their grasps, only to drop Skippy’s dagger in the process.

“Let go of me!” he shouted. “I said, let go!”

Prince John snapped his fingers, and more guards appeared behind him.

“Search the entire church,” he demanded. “Leave no stone unturned.”

The guards nodded, spears and swords in hand, and pushed open the large doors. All Friar Tuck could do at this point was to keep shouting and struggling to get free.

***

It was painfully silent in the cellar; even breathing was barely audible, but Skippy preferred it that way. He couldn’t stop reminding himself that even the smallest sound could give them away. He turned around to meet the gazes of the townspeople. Most of them, including his siblings, had looks of worry, but not exactly terror. Skippy felt unsure about the position he had put himself into, but he then looked to his mother. She gave him a smile and a nod, as if to say she was proud of him. He smiled back, and looked over to the door. He wanted to ask someone how long they had been waiting, or to open the door to see what was happening outside…

His thoughts were interrupted by muffled sounds from the other side. He pressed his ear to the large stone door, and deciphered that it was the sound of someone shouting. He then heard loud footsteps…a lot of them. The sound of spears hitting the floor above them, unfamiliar voices…it made Skippy’s heart race.

Think about what Friar Tuck had said: Stay silent.

Stay silent.

Stay-

A cry was suddenly heard. An infant cry, to be exact.

Skippy’s head whipped around to see his mother with her eyes wide. One of his youngest siblings had started crying unexpectedly, and it was giving away their position. The atmosphere of the cellar intensified greatly, so much so that it was suffocating. Skippy rushed over and placed a hand over his sibling’s mouth, attempting to at least muffle the sound. Then everything was silent, even above. Now footsteps could be heard on the other side of the door. Everyone’s breath hitched, their bodies trembling.

The doors were opened forcefully, and the people screamed.

Skippy could only think one thing: They were caught.