**This is T and or M rating, not really sure where I want this to lead too so bear with me for a bit. So, you've not only been given the rating on the introduction of the Fan-fiction summary, but also here on the first chapter.

THIS IS A Will Scarlet/OC Fanfiction :)

4/29/19

Chapter 1

"Ashley! what are you doing here!" Robin said in a low, harsh tone filled with shock, looking around with fear at the multiple men who were on the ship with them for nearly three months as they traveled to their training station and to join the Crusades with King Richard. What made this worse than it was already terrible, was that Ashley was not only, obviously a young woman, but the youngest cousin to King Richard and younger sister to his best friend, Peter Dubois, who was currently asleep off in the corner not eight feet from him.

Fearful he'd rat her out, Ashley quickly, and as quietly as possible, spoke up to him, "I wanted to come with you and the others. I'm just as good with a bow as you are Robin-"

"You're a girl Ashley, these men have been on this ship for nearly three months. They can be capable of many things, terrible things that I may not be able to keep you safe from if you get found by anyone el-" Robin had a tremor of fear sink in him at the boots that sounded from behind him, but the voice that came next had him wanting to pee himself, "Ashley?" the deep, smooth, voice asked from behind Robin, and that voice was all too familiar to the young brunette, her dark blue eyes shinned in the torches light as it was moved closer to the two, revealing Ashley's young twelve-year-old self-downed in trousers and baggy shirt and belt, her hair rolled up loosely to look as if she had shaggy hair.

She had done her best, and had succeeded, in making herself look as if she were a young boy, an orphan, and they had let her aboard with no issue. She honestly didn't think she'd be found out at least until they had arrived at their destination. Especially, since she had gone nearly three months without being found. But now she not only had her brother's best friend but her cousin, the King, now aware of her presence on the ship.

"Hello Richard?" she had no idea what to do, her voice was small and gentle, because in reality she was small and gentle, but she had a good eye for distance and could almost best her brother with a blade. She was never one for being a proper lady and her cousin knew this.

Back home in England, Ashley had been caught, on many occasions' speaking of wanting to leave with him for the Crusades, for the adventures and to see the world. She had a spirit for the adventure and quick on her feet for not only hand to hand and the Technic with a bow and blade, but also the skills to learn and adapt to the environment. Richard knew that as well also, something that had shocked her parents and cousin. But he looked anything but happy to see her.

Reaching down, Richard grasped her forearm and pulled her to her feet, "Young Lady, what are you doing here!"

"I wanted to come with you. Pleases don't send me home Richard." Truthfully, she was more afraid he'd toss her over board and make her swim three months back to England. Even though she knew he'd never do such a thing.

"Well I bloody well cannot now young Lady! We're three months, nearly four, into sea! Come with me now! I cannot believe I have been blind to not see you!" He ranted, tossing her into his personal cabins, "Take a bath and I'll find you suitable clothes." Richard ordered with an angry huff and walked out to find some clothes for her to wear, but as angry as he was, Richard was greatly impressed. He himself had completely looked past her for nearly four months aboard the same ship.

Richard, much to his dislike had trained her none the less, personally, and had continued with the training once they had reached their destination. A young girl she may have been, but she was still talented, though, he was not letting her out of his sight.

Until one faithful night, they had lost many, and several had been taken as prisoners, Peter, Robin and Ashley had been among the captives and Richard was left in distress trying to find away from get not only his warriors, but Ashley as well from the captives, without revealing the nature of his interest in her.

Jerusalem 1194

That had been nearly six years ago to the captives who had captured many of Richard's Crusader's. Even six years later there was still no word regarding the missing lives from that fateful day.

Ashley had been lucky in keeping her gender a secret from the one's holding them in the prison deep underground, those who had been captured with her and near her had kept very close eyes on her for six years with their imprisonment. The dark underground prison was nasty and filled with everyone's bodily extractions, corps would be left to hang where the person would die, and limbs that were removed were tossed off to the side and left like they were 'pleasant' decorations to the guards.

This particular night, the Guards seemed to be enjoying cutting off their prisoner's limbs, but they had one problem, Peter and another prisoner had been caught arguing over some 'stolen' bread. Cutting the hand with a hot scimitar they'd leave in the large fire pit after whipping the first man to near death and weakness then had tossed him off to a side of their choosing's away from them as a few others had moved from their stations to laugh in his face and began to kick and beat him, likely to his true death.

Ashley had nearly lost her breath, even though she barely spoke, in fear of her voice giving her away when they had moved towards Robin and her brother, "He claims you stole the breed." The Head guard said, biting into a piece of fruit, not truthfully caring.

Ashley had wanted to knock him into the fire pit simply for doing what he'd done for nearly six years, torture, murder and worst of all, rape. The last girl that had been tossed in the prison with them had been rapped to near death before both hands had been chopped off, one for thieving and the other for trying to defend herself against the ones attacking her and forcing themselves on her.

Robin had looked away himself but had been sure to guard Ashley from the sight as she whimpered for the poor girl, who was likely her own age, they all were forced to listen to her screams and the Prison Guards cruel laughter.

Ashley had vomited after the fact, the girl had likely not survived, no one heard her after the two nights it had carried on, no more cries, no more screams, they heard nothing from her. Ashley had taken the girls' violation personally, not only because she too was a young woman herself, but because the poor girl had not had a chance to fight for herself and her honor nor had not had the chance to attempt to escape. 'I'll be sure they pay for their cruelty!' Ashley only had one regret while being in that prison, and that was not having the chance to learn the dear girl's name.

"Fine, cut off the infidels' hand also." The man said nonchalantly. He simply didn't care, all the man seemed to care about was getting to watch more pain and causing more pain for their entertainment. She felt sick and fear as they began unchaining her brother, her mind being brought back to the forefront of the tournament all the prisoners endorsed there, now it looked as though it was going to be her brother and their dear friend trying to protect him.

Robin swiftly moved to defend him but had likely had his own plan setting into action, they were getting out of there, "I took to breed."

"No, Robin, that's not true," Peter said tiredly, but his voice was laced with fear and exhaustion, he didn't want to die in the prison; he didn't want to be where they were, he wanted to be back home, see his parents, he wanted his baby sister to be home and safe. But Ashley had been caught because she had tried to safe him and Robin when they had gotten pinned by men on horseback in an ambush. She had exhausted her arrows then charged in, sward drawn and fought back to back with him and Robin holding her own rather well that Peter and Robin's hearts had them smiling with pride. Until they had all been thrusted to the ground and disarmed. That was the moment their fear started.

Peter was just so thankful they had never noticed her female appearance, or if the General had noticed he had kept it to himself. If that had been the case the men were grateful for his silence. He was not willing to watch them do those voile things to his baby sister as they had to that poor girl only God knew how long ago.

They had lost track of time, seconds to hours, day's to nights, worst of all, the years that had likely passed by. They had no idea how long they had been imprisoned and it truly had felt like years.

"He doesn't care about the truth Peter," Robin said calmly to his friend who began crying.

Peter was too weak to help fight the next man off from going after Robin. Petrified they die after this and no one to watch over his sister in the prison when they were gone, nor Marian back home. Both men's fear came full forward when Robin had set his hand upon the block and waited for them to cut his hand after strapping a leather band, the guard's laughter ringing through the air.

Ashley had lost it, and for the first time in six years, her voice came full force with a painful scream, "NO!" she hadn't realized she had screamed until it was too late, but it had been a good distraction for Robin, suddenly pulling the man holding the leather band around his wrist just as the 'executioner' had slammed the sword down and cut his own comrades forearm off.

This insured a fight with the guards' currently there and Robin had cut them all down, Peter had hit him over his head with a heavy bucket that had sent the man into the fire pit, setting the man ablaze and screaming, he wouldn't have been fated to of been set aflame if he hadn't tried moving for Robin, "That's for the years of Hell!" Peter screamed, rushing towards Ashley, he worked his tiered fingers through the rope they had bound her with, "Guess we're lucky they tied you with rope, huh?" Peter tried joking, but now was not the time for jokes.

"Come on!" Ashley moved to look for the keys yet had ended up grabbing a fallen guard's sword and began fighting off as more rushed in, their intention was to kill.

Robin tried cutting through the chains, failing in his attempts. However, there was no such luck causing much panic and fear of leaving his comrade's behind, "BEHIND YOU!" a man screamed, warning Robin of an attacker, others screaming to take them with them, "You cannot save them all Christian!" the man said shouting over everyone's pleading screams.

"And what would you have me do! Leave them and save you instead!" Robin shouted, staggering to the man, both sharing a look they both understood, a pleading look of life and desperation but they both saw something else, both men were honor bound to life, "I can show you a way out of here."

"Robin come on... Robin for God's sake!" Ashley screamed after gutting two more, "Robin! We have to get out of here!"

Peter moved to move his friend from the 'Moor' but had shouted at the man when he continued to insist they release him, "Why should we!"

"For pities sake! You, your friend and the woman. They will do worse to her than your or I!" he said, and he had succeeded in sending fear through the two men, in his first thought Robin had cut his ropes free, "Then get her out of here," that was all Robin wished, if this man was claiming he could get them and Ashley safely out of the Prison through the tunnels then he'd risk it.

The four had stumbled and shook as they ran through the sewers and up to the surface, but they were not as lucky as one of the towers guards had spotted them and shot an arrow for the first person he knew he could hit, which happened to be the girl. Yet seeing the guard, Peter had moved faster to shield his baby sister with a fearful shout, "NO!" he had moved faster than he thought he could from being so weak, but he hadn't been able to safe them both. Peter Dubois had taken the arrow for her through his own back.

The sudden attack had frightened her when she not only heard her brother loud and clear but felt him slamming into her once he'd been hit, her heart filled with heaviness of the shock, "PETER!" She had caught him against her small form as soon as the arrow had in-bedded itself into is back as he was filled with pain. Ashley's body shivered in fear and panic as she watched him reach back, barely touching the arrow and whaled in pain. "Peter?" but as her eyes fell upon the arrow where it was, she let a cry loose. They had just gotten free, and her brother would die there, without a proper burial, "Robin-"

Hearing Ashley's crying plea, Robin moved back into action, dragging his friend from the full view and to cover, trying to look at the wound and break the arrow, but it was hopeless, "It is mortal, Robin… Le-leave it... G-give this to Marian, ple-please, protect her and Ashley… Please Robin, promise me. Protect my sisters." Peter begged, handing a golden ring with red rubies in a cross layout into Robin's hand, something he had hidden from the prison guards since the day they had been captured.

Robin nodded, fearful his friend would die before he had the chance to see home again, and he was right, Peter Dubois would not live to see England, "I promise, they will be safe."

"Ash, t-tell our sister I died a free Englishman." He whispered softly as he panted for breath, something that was growing more difficult. She hadn't had the chance to beg him not to move when he'd suddenly shoved past her and the man Robin had saved, sword held ready and rushed the enemies coming their way.

Robin had wrapped his arms around Ashley lifting the girl up off her feet as she kicked and screamed for her brother, "No, Ashley!" Robin shouted as he and the man moved for cover, dragging the young brunette with them as Peter Dubois was shot down, his sword falling from his hands as he hit the ground as a Fallen Warrior as the three had taken cover from the soldiers and prison guards that had moved to scour the town for them. Peter's sacrifice had spared them a few extra moments to take a safer cover from the guards and solders looking for them.

"I am Azeem Bakir, but you may call me Azeem." The man introduced himself, breaking a yellow fruit against his knee and handing the two split parts to Robin and Ashley, who both gladly took the offered food, "Thank you, Ashley Dubois," she smiled sadly, her heart still aching of her lost brother, something she'd never get over, her worst pain came in the form of a single thought, how was she to tell her sister? Marian had loved them both, but she, Ashley, had left Marian to care for their home and land without her, because she had been a coward of growing up and being the lady Ashley knew she should have taken action as and become. However, she was glad she had run away, otherwise her brother and Robin's fate may have been different.

"Robin of Locksley, we part ways here Azeem, I thank you greatly for helping us. But Ashley and I must return home." Robin said, moving an arm against the girl to hid her more against the wall from the moving men behind them as they searched for them. Once he knew they were gone, Robin had gone about grabbing a basket of fruit that was there in the alley and a cage of some kind of bird. "I owe you a debt Christian. You saved my life from that place. Now, I am in service to you until I can redeem that life payment."

"And if I say no?" Robin asked with a bit of a smile, but he was serious in some ways, he didn't want anyone to fallow because he wasn't sure if he could trust the man in the first place nor did he want anyone to feel indebted to him, "Then you'd still not have a choice, I am coming with you, both of you…" Azeem said looking between the two, and smiled with a nod towards Ashley, "You are very good with a blade child." Azeem complimented.

Ashley hadn't had anyone speak to her as a human being in ages besides her brother and Robin, and Azeem was a friendly face, "Thank you, my cousin taught me."

They had spent weeks getting to the coast line and buying passage back to England, Azeem had become accustomed to Ashley and Robin, who would bicker like brother and sister, he had listened to the girl mourn her brothers' loss for two months after they had escaped, mourned being trapped in that Hell hole of a place they'd call a prison and mourned the poor girl who had been so viciously violated. Ashley would have nightmares for years, if not until the day she died, he knew he would of.

"Two months on the sea and she's still getting sick." Azeem said, a bit shocked to Robin who was laughing with amusement, "She never did good on ships." Robin explained with laughter, moving over to the sick woman and pulled back her hair rubbing her back gently, "It's alright Ash, let it out…"

Out of curiosity, Azeem went ahead and asked a few questions of the young woman, Robin seemed to have a more talkative manner, but Ashley seemed to not wish to speak much, likely still mourning her brother's loss and wanting to have her personal moments to herself.

"So, a woman Warrior? May I ask why you were there dear girl?" Azeem was just asking from curiosity, but Ashley knew it would also help distract her mind, "I was more interested in bows and blades than being a proper lady. I ran away, like a childish coward I was at the age of twelve when my cousin and brother left for the Crus-" Her stomach had interrupted Ashley's explanation and went back to throwing up over the ship's edge. That was were Robin laughed and continued the explanation for her. "She's right, her skills with a bow and blade are good, she's a fast learner, never much liked rules or regulations. She's a feisty thing, but she's graceful and gentle when she wishes to be, has a voice like an angel though and can dance almost like no other. She had a few good teachers as she grew up though. Her cousin, Richard, mother and father. Her sister, Marian, is a good example, smart and beautiful, but she has a bit of a bite when she wishes to show how much stubborn and strength she has behind her, and it isn't the title Marian uses, it's brains and smarts. And she's good at it." Robin said, his voice was like a far-off dream. Smooth and calm as the ship sailed through the oceans waves, "Robin, you keep talking about my sister the way you are, and you'll have me to go through… You hear me?" Ashley managed to get out, but her constant vomiting was making it more amusing than her attempt to be serious.

Robin had silently laughed with Azeem but had nodded, "Apologies dear Ashley. Come, let's find a place for you to sleep tonight, maybe somewhere near the ships edge in case you need to relieve your stomach." He joked out, kissing Ashley to her temple, "I'm having a bit of fun Ash, I'm sorry. Come on, truly I think you need sleep." The months had carried on like that, Ashley getting sick and resting with bread and water to try and sooth her aching stomach with Azeem and Robin keeping a close eye on her, in fear the sailors giving them passage would try something. No one could ever be so careful when on the open sea for so long. But all was not as well as they were hoping back home in England, Robin's father, Lord Locksley, had been tricked and attacked outside his own home by men in cloaks and masks. His loyal and trusted servant and friend had been tortured and blinded for refusing to condemn his friend and Master, who had been so kind and thoughtful to him over the years.

Lord Locksley was rumored to have signed a confession of Devil Worshiping. However, Lord Locksley had been tortured and forced to sign the confession, if not having his signature forged. Every bit of rumor was a lie to his home, legacy and honor, one that his son, Robin of Locksley, would have no known knowledge of for some time as he traveled thousands of miles to return home in hopes of redeeming his horrible and cruel natured past with his father, hoping he could apologize and rekindle their lost relationship from years of destruction Robin had done himself before running off to the Crusades. But it was not to be.

**Thank you for reading and I hope you all enjoyed and have a wonderful Day/Night!