storybroken | [event: flashback]

[ Despite the horse's tack being none too royal, it is well-kept and the bearing of the man on the road is not one of a yeoman or peasant fallen on hard times and difficult toils. That is what inspires Robin when he signals to his men—only two out with him today, as there is when nothing particularly special is planned—to move in from the side. Robin, stalking along the branches just out of sight from the main road, quickly takes the opportunity and dashes forward, dropping down a few feet from the path and dashing ahead.

He tilts his feathered cap back just enough to give the rider a speculative look, a gleam in his eyes to match the grin on his face. ]

Hail.

Edited 2011-11-14 06:40 (UTC)

[A little startled at the sudden man in the road, James pulls his horse to a standstill, frowning under his hood. Automatically he glances toward the trees flanking either side of the path, because one man confronting him in woods relatively secluded? Doubtful. Philip always had had stories about bandits.

[So although he keeps his horse reigned in, James also keeps the gelding ready to run and his hand near his sword.]

Hail. You're in my way, friend.

Observant. Good — then you'll know this is a hold-up, and... [ he nods toward the woods, where one of his men steps just into sight, bow drawn and aimed ] ... that we'd prefer it if you went quietly.

[ There's a "HA!" from the opposite direction as the bowman, and Robin tilts his head toward it with an eye roll. ]

Okay, fine. We wouldn't, but it would be easier on all of us.

[For bandits, they had remarkable senses of humour. James looks evenly toward the archer and releases a slow, discreet breath to control the adrenaline already flooding him before looking back at the leader.]

I've never been very good at doing things the easy way. And I don't submit to bandits.

Too bad for you.

[ Robin raises his arms in a shrug, then, surges forward to grab the horse's reigns before James can rush off around them or do something else to make this even more difficult. His hand shifts quickly to take James' and hold it still; not having lost his momentum, Robin lifts his inner leg up to kick James' out of the stirrup and take the foothold. He twists, letting go of James' hand to use the rest of his weight and power to knock them both off the horse. ]

[The instant Robin moves James puts his heels to the gelding's sides and the horse takes off--with the both of them on his back. The problem is that this man is good; even with James expecting it, he still loses his stirrup. One elbow comes up to clock his assailant in the jaw, but he loses his balance and they go tumbling off the saddle only a dozen or so feet from where the ambush had begun. The gelding keeps going, saddlebags and all.

[James kicks out at the bandit to give himself space and is on his feet again in seconds, his sword drawn. In truth, there isn't much in his saddlebags barring the necessities and a few trinkets he can afford to lose. Philip told him to keep his most treasured possessions close by, because at least then they couldn't be separated from him and he could defend them. But if this will separate the bandit group ...]

[ As soon as Robin is kicked off, he rolls, tumbles backward to put space between himself and the target. That's the one problem with his headlong approach to things — it requires getting in close (and, most of the time, he's good at that), but when it goes wrong and he needs to defend himself, his methods rely on distance. Regardless, he draws his bow as he regains his balance and nocks the arrow all before he's steady on foot and knee. ]

Good one.

[ He hears the rustle to his right, one of his men dashing off after the horse. Pity to separate, but it can't be helped. What else he notices, however, is the lack of sound to his left. ]

Edited 2011-11-14 07:24 (UTC)

[James is just about to lunge at the bandit when he finds himself facing the arrow and stops short, sword raised on guard. This man must be the fastest draw James has ever seen.]

And you.

[He eyes the bowstring and the hand keeping it back, trying to judge how much time he has between the release and being impaled. At the same time he's trying to keep an ear out for one of the others coming up behind him. His hood's down, now, bunched around his neck, but whether or not the bandit will recognise him in questionable given the clothes he's wearing--well-made, but not notably royal.]

Last I looked, bows were meant to be used at a distance.

Seeing as your sword isn't in my throat, I'd say I've distance enough. Wouldn't you?

[ His eyes narrow at the face of the man before him. It niggles fiercely, but he can't quite place it—oh man, that's going to bug him so badly until he figures it out. His muscles twitch as he hears someone come up from beside them; the steps are even and anything but silent, yet do not speak truly of the tall man making his way through the leaves. Wavy, dirty blond hair peeks through the man's hood and he places himself at the opposite end of the road, arms crossed while he gives James a critical look. ]

Robin! Do you see who this is?

Now isn't the time, John.

Of course it isn't. You'd just as soon rob a prince blind as you would one of the sheriff's men.

[ To his credit, Robin doesn't take his eyes off the armed man in front of him, but he does heave a sigh. ]

What?

[James's eyes slide to the side so he can watch the--oh, blast. That one's huge. And knows his face, to boot; either he was well-travelled or he'd dealt with James's kingdom before. Still, James doesn't falter; in fact, he does a slight bow at the archer without once letting down his guard.]

Prince James at your service. So you're Robin, is it?

[Now that sounds familiar. Hadn't he heard a warning of a man named Robin in these forests? An outlaw and his men who inhabited the Sherwood.]

I've heard of you. They say you're a bandit with something more than just a shred of decency. [A pause.] Unless you listen to Prince John's men, of course.

[ Robin's lips turn upwards at the description. He can't afford the same gesture considering his own position, but he does allow some of his posture to relax. ]

Prince John paints me as he would hide himself, a coward who works in the shadows and takes the belongings of others only for my pure enjoyment and prosperity. [ The smirk widens, shifts into something of a more genuine smile. ] Personally, I like the other version better. It's closer to the truth, anyway.

So, Your Ever-So-Highness, what brings you out to my little corner of the woods? Shouldn't you be busy being princely on the other side of the realm lines?

[James isn't unaware of Prince John's reputation--even among other royals. His own kingdom is on hard times, but from what he's seen, this kingdom suffers for John's expense. Still, he's not going to let that on so quickly--not until he has a better measure of Robin.]

So you say, and yet it was you who tackled me off my horse.

[Carefully he takes a strafing step to the side to put John in better vision and a little further away, as well as putting a nearby tree that much closer and thus a potential hiding stop for those arrows.]

Just out for a little ride. I can't stay up cooped up in the castle all day; it's bad for your health.

I don't know why you're surprised. I am a bandit, James, that part's true no matter what story you look at.

[ There it goes. It didn't take long for him to cozy up to the target, and considering James is alone, his royal heritage doesn't do much for him anyway. Robin's bow follows the man precisely as he moves, hand tensing on the drawstring, while John takes a step forward. He appears unarmed, but considering his size, that may not be a problem for him. ]

Bit of a ways to go just to get some air. By the way, I'd appreciate it if you stopped moving. You're making my man nervous.

[ Contrary to that, neither of the men appear nervous so much as on guard and ready to jump into action should it be necessary. ]

[Luckily, although James does freeze, the angle lets him slide his free hand down toward his dagger potentially without it being seen. He strives not to let on through his body posture; instead he keeps talking to distract the both of them from what he's doing. If he can just get his dagger he should have enough to distract Robin with a throw ...]

I think if anyone here has the right to be nervous it's me. After all, it's two against one, here, and your man's a giant. And it's my brother's influence. He enjoys a bit of travel.

Edited 2011-11-14 08:37 (UTC)

[ Robin holds still, taking the opportunity James' movement provides to stand. His aim doesn't waver, but it's easier on him this way. ]

Little John here's just protective, that's all.

With good reason.

Because you're a worrywart. Now... where were we? Oh, right. Seeing as you're a prince and all, James, here's what I figure we can do: you let us take any valuables you've got on you, and we'll be on our merry way, absolutely no need to get violent. You wouldn't take anything irreplaceable with you on a little jaunt through the countryside, right?

[James snorts at John's nickname and then tilts his head, pursing his lips slightly as if in thought.]

I'd rather say 'no', if it's all the same to you.

[He doesn't give them time to let the words sink in before his hand darts the rest of the way to his dagger, drawing it with a ring of steel and hurling it at Robin in the same smooth motion. At the same time he spins to the side toward the tree to dodge the inevitable arrow.]

[ The inevitable arrow, as it turns out, has shifted focus to the much more imminent danger of the dagger. Robin shoots at it moments before he dives out of the way, already another arrow nocked as he whips around to find the prince. John is only too eager to help by pointing James' position out. ]

Robin! There.

... I see him. [ The shot isn't good enough, but even in the forest—especially in the forest—James wouldn't be able to last for long if he tries to flee. This is Robin's domain. ] Nice trick, Your Highness! You going to come out and play with the big boys now?

[ It's about now that the momentary high wears off and Robin realizes he's bleeding. His shot went too wide, the distances had been too small to change the course of the dagger, and his arm has a good slice taken out of it. Nothing too damaging, but the scar's going to have quite a story to tell when all is said and done. ]

Edited 2011-11-14 09:13 (UTC)

I thought we'd already started!

[James is already scanning the trees, wondering how many men Robin has out there and whether he should try running for it. Probably not, he concludes; even if he got away from these two, they still knew the forest much better than him. No, there has to be another way out of this, and the gossip he heard from the yeomen might be enough to tell him what it is.]

But since you insist--I challenge you to a duel, Robin Hood.

[ Despite Little John's quiet groan ("Oh no..."), Robin perks up. He shifts to try and get a better lock on the prince, but his stance has changed. Now he seems interested. ]

What sort of duel?

[And apparently it is. Excellent; maybe James will get out of this yet--without losing his life or valuables. The prince hears John's reaction but doesn't respond to it except with a quirk of his brow.]

A duel with swords. If I win, you and your men let me leave peacefully and with all my possessions. Including the horse.

[Assuming the third man caught him.]

Swords? [ Pssht. ] Is that all? I assume if I win, then it's everything for me.

Robin... Maybe you should think about this a little more.

[ What? Et tu, John? Robin turns toward his companion and furrows his brow. ]

What for?

You know what for. Your Highness! If I may suggest... how about a three-part duel?

[ John, what are you doing, stop that. Robin has it under control! (No, he doesn't. Showing off is a great weakness of his, and John is all too aware. Even if the prince is all talk, two-out-of-three simply gives Robin a larger margin for error should he overestimate himself.) ]

[If this man is anything like his reputation, he has reason for being cocky--but from what James has heard, he's a little too cocky to begin with. James takes a moment to consider this new proposal.]

That depends on what you had in mind for the other parts.

Archery. [ What, you didn't think Robin would let these two talk out the details without some of his own input, did you? Besides, what duel would be complete without an archery contest? ]

Like he said. Archery, and... a race.

A race?

Yes, a race. I hardly see any other option, considering the materials on hand.

[ ... point made. Robin shrugs in agreement. ]

What sort of race?

[Archery. From what James saw of the man's draw, Robin was going to beat him there. It would come down to the third contest. He should probably refuse ... and yet part of him doesn't want to. This is, well, exciting. He can understand why Philip enjoys travel if this is what he does.]

A race by steed.

Steed? If you haven't noticed, we don't—

[ Clop-clop-clop-clop, clop-clop-clop-clop... Robin shuts up, turning his head far enough to see the forms of two horses and their riders approaching from down the road. One is almost definitely one Robin recognizes, and so he allows himself to relax. ]

Did you hear them coming?

I guessed, actually.

[ ... well, it's better than John outdoing Robin at his very own forestry game. ]

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[time: at least a few years pre-series.]

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