Discalimer: i do not own the Robin hood charactors although i would like to

A/N: This is my first robin hood fic so be nice!

This story is set after series 2. Marian is dead and Will and Djaq have stayed behind in the holy lands. Gisborne is determind to kill Robin (he blames Marian's death on him) and the gang. And the sheriff has an evil plan up his sleeve...

Chapter 1

Robin urged Gisborn's black stallion onwards towards Sherwood forest, the box of taxes they had just stolen under his arm.

Behind was Much, little John and finaly Allen bringing up the rear. When the young trickster had rejoined the gang he had been a little edgy at first, they all had, but eventually thingd had gone back to normal. Or as normal as they could be with Will and Djaq gone. Which could not be very normal Robin had to admit.

But of cause nothing could ever be normal with Marian gone . Dead. Robin tried not to think of her. He had to move on with life now. That's what Marian would have wanted. But now and then the memory of her would flit to the front of his mind. But if Robin was being truthful it wasn't just now and then he thought of her. It was every second of every minute of every hour of every day.

But it was not the memory of Marian lying on the ground in Acre. Dying. That was the memory that haunted his nightmares. No, the picture of Marian in his minds eye was smiling, happy. And then a smiling Robin was next to her. They where so close. He could feel Marian's warm breath on his skin. They were together. Forever.

" Master!" Much's voice drove Robin out of his blissful day dream. " Master guards!".

The leader turned to see about a dozen man streaming out of Nottingham castle, Guy of Gisborne amongest them. Robin grinned as he saw Gisborne on an old looking brown horse instead of his prized stallion which he was seated upon.

Turning his horse around he began to shout instructions to his depleted gand. "Right. We're going to try and out run them" said Robin talking fast. " We need to split up. John- you take the north road. Much- the forest tracks. Me and Allen will go cross- country.

Much looked like he was about to argue, but as he caught sight of his former master's face he decided against it.

And the gang spurred their stolen horses onwards and on reaching the woods taking their separate paths.

Much watched Robin and Allen ride through the trees with something like jealousy mingled anger and his face. But the look was only fleeting and soon Much was riding into the trees along the winding road of the forest.

Why? was all Much could think. Why hadn't Robin taken him instead? Why Allen? Allen had been a traitor whereas he had always been there for his master. When Robin had told them that there was a traitor in the gany he had known instantly that it was Allen. Well almost instantly. The former servant turned behind him- no guards. Good.

Robin and Allen where willing their horses to go faster. They could hear the sound of hooves of what seemed to be the whole squad of guards. At least the others where all right. Now they could hear the mens voices. Their shouts as they closer and closer towards their quarry. It was not easy going crosscountry and a number of times it seemed like they where going to be bucked off their horses.

Then a arrow whizzed through the air towards Robin. Noticing it just in time he ducked. He could feel his hair ruffle as the aroow shot passed. But then he heard a neighing scream. Robin looked up to see the arrow indended for him enbeaded in Allen's horses's flank.

The horse reared and it was all Allen could do but to cling on. It reared again . This time he was not so lucky. He fell from the horse and hit the ground hard. He was stubling up upwards when the animal kicked him in the stomach with it's back legs.

Allen was thrown backwards where he tumbled down into a steep valley. Robin jumped off his horse and send it off into the woods. Then he ran behind a large oak tree. Unseen by anyone.

By now the young man had scrambled up and was surouned by guards.Robin wandered whether he could take them on all at once.

" Now, why don't just talk about this then gents, ey?" Allen's voice sounded calm but Robin could tell that he was nervous.

Robin was just about to make himself visable when Guy of Gisborne's voice floated towards him. "Well well well, Allen-a -Dale" Gisborne's sneer was still the same as ever.

Then Robin's swarn enemy came into sight with another dozen guards. He groaned. There was no way of taking on that many guards. That would be suicide. He watched helplessly as gisborne raised his fisted. Robin closed his eyes.

When he nexted opened them Allen was tied to the back of a horse unconscious. He saw them gallop away back to Nottingham hating himself even though he knew there was nothing he could do.

They would have to regroup and make a plan before they could help Allen.

Robin just prayed that they would not be too late

A/N: what did you think? please review even if it is out of pity