Hi there :) Here is the first installment of what I plan to be an action filled story, based on an idea I had a long time ago when I wanted nothing more than to BE maid marian! Please review, if you hat it with a passion I still want ot know :P Seriously, reviews are the best. Thanks hope you enjoy!

Chapter One

Lizzie

Lizzie pounded through the forest at a pace she didn't even know she was capable of, especially with her dress weighing her down. She had just enough oxygen left in her brain to think that it was probably good she'd chosen dark green – kind of like camouflage before she collapsed.

As the world shifted back into focus she groaned

"No Lizzie, come on, you've come this far!" But running further was not an option. As she tried to get her breath back she heard faint voices calling to each other in the distance and although she could not hear what was being said her stomach clenched for she knew they were looking for her and they weren't about to give up.

Fear pushed her to her feet and she looked around wildly for somewhere to hide, nowhere was obvious to her so she took a deep breath in and began climbing the nearest (and happily the leafiest) tree. Shaking but determined she climbed steadily until she reached the highest point she physically could. In her exhaustion, slumped against a diagonal branch, she failed to notice the rope.

Robin

Grinning, Robin hurtled through the forest. He had absolutely no idea why there were hordes of grim looking men on horseback in his territory but they weren't looking for a cup of tea and a slice of cake that was for sure! From what he could tell they were looking for a girl, now girls definitely were Robin's cup of tea and he intended to find her before they did.

Problem was, they'd seen him so along with this ulterior motive he was also running for his life.

Life? Girl? Life? Girl? Robin knew he had to make a snap decision – they were hot on his heels.

Life.

Making a quick turn he ran to where he knew there was a very big tree to which he'd attached a rope precisely for occasions like this. Upon finding it he grabbed the rope and clambered quickly to about halfway up the tree where he sat and waited for the men to pass by.

When they had he straightened up and turned around to get the rope and was met instead with a smack to the face with a rather sturdy branch.

"OW!" He yelled, holding the side of his face and trying to process the reality of the pretty, branch-wielding, tree dwelling?, angry/scared looking girl in front of him.

"Are you crazy?" Robin asked, looking her up and down (if she was that was a right shame because was she pretty or was she pretty!)

"No." She said, loosening her grip on the branch and furrowing her brow, "I;m just on edge, that's all. Anyway how was I supposed to know you weren't a lunatic? You could easily have been a lunatic!" She finished, letting her branch-holding hand drop to her side.

"Says the one up a tree hitting people with branches." Robin remarked, raising his eyebrow in what he hoped was a sophisticated way.

"Might I remind you that you are also up a tree which is how the hitting with said branches came about." She countered with a queenly tilt of her chin.

"But I'm -" Robin started but was cut short by the sound of horses hooves. He was about to tell the girl to be quiet when he saw her face; her blue eyes were wide and haunted and her full lips were quivering, she looked like she was just setting off to the hanging stand. If there was any doubt in Robins mind it was gone now, this was the girl. She fixed him with an urgent stare and mouthed

"Please," and put a shaking finger to her lips, Robin leaned back and regarded her coolly with his arms crossed, fighting back a laugh he let his eye wander to the branch still in her hand and shrugged slightly, looking away. Out of the corner of his eye he saw her horrified look as she digested the idea that he was annoyed at her and would very possibly get her caught. As he jokingly opened his mouth and took a breath she moved forward and put a hand over his mouth, looking terrified as the men on horseback rode by. Robin wasn't complaining – she was very close, he could see the freckles on her nose and the tremor of her red lips. When the men were gone she removed her hands warily and he just stared at her before suddenly grabbing her and the rope in the same movement and swinging them both down onto the forest floor, laughing at her gasp of surprise. When they were on the ground he smirked

"Did you really think I was going to shout? Aside from anything else theyd've caught me as well!" His grin broadened as her face went from white to pink then back again as she stared at him in anger, her swift slap made him stop though. Quickly.

"Will you stop hitting me!" He hissed, his face smarting.

"Cad." she muttered, looking up at him through a curtain of dark lashes. She really was very pretty. Crazy, Robin decided, but pretty.

"Robin of Loxley," He said as he extended his hand.

"Elizabeth." She said, shaking hands with him. Robin waited but no last name came and the mystery deepened.