A wounded messenger from King Richard flees Locksley Manor, pursued by Allan and Gisbourne's men. He manages to hide a message up a tree before suffering a bad fall. Robin and Marian arrive and drive off Allan and his men. With his dying breath, the messenger tells Robin that the King needs him to recruit more men to fight in the Holy Land and utters the word "Lardner." Robin asks Marian if she will marry him. Marian agrees, and they form a plan. The Sheriff is furious at a fool whom Gisborne had hired to entertain his guests.
It is revealed that the fool had revealed to the messenger that Gisborne was the new lord of Locksley and that Robin was an outlaw. Djaq tells Robin that "Lardner" might be a Saracen carrier pigeon and Robin's message of reply will take only days to get back to King Richard. Whilst the gang sets about composing a message to the King, Robin and Marian ride off to the last place they had seen saw the King's messenger, a tree. Just as they reach Lardner, the Sheriff and Gisborne arrive.
The Sheriff goes back to the castle, saying, "I have an idea." Meanwhile, Marian insists that Robin act as if she was a hostage. He lowers a bound and gagged Marian from a tree on a rope, threatening to kill her. Robin gets a clear route of escape from the tree, but Marian decides to return with Gisbourne. As the outlaws escape, Will releases the pigeon. The Sheriff unleashes a hawk, which quickly dispatches the small pigeon. Will reveals that the pigeon that was killed had been a decoy, a spare prop bird provided by the fool. Lardner is given this message: "Prince John plots to steal your throne. Make peace—" these two words inserted by Djaq "—and come home immediately."
Tropes
- Continuity Nod: While preparing the pitch to burn down the tree Robin is hiding in, Gisborne reminds him that their roles are reversed from the events of Child Hood, in which Robin threw pitch over Guy and set him on fire.
- Exposition Dump: Djaq gets a long speech about what Lardner truly is and how he can help the outlaws. Actress Anjali Jay makes the most of it.
- No Name Given: The Fool is only ever called "the Fool."
- One-Shot Character: The Fool is not seen again after this episode, despite having some useful skills and a familiarity with the politics of the land.
