Okay, just some background info. Marlborough Castle was given as a prezzie from King Richard to Prince John in 1186. And this fic is set after Series Two. Marian is dead is sad and Will and Djaq are in the Holy Land.
Thx for reading! Please, please, review, I really love them.
Chapter One- Old "Friends" and New Beginnings- March 1193
"You wished to see me, my lord." Sir Warren of Marlborough entered Prince John's chamber. The young man wondered what his superior had in store for him. The last time John had called him away from his city, his task was one he never wished to do again.
"I have a task for you, Warren." The prince smiled and rose from his throne and then sat back down lazily. "How is the castle? I expect you are taking care of it nicely and hope you haven't let it fall in ruins by this time. "
"I haven't let it fall into ruins, it is well. Marlborough is awaiting your return from London." He nervously ran a hand through his light brown hair. "May I ask what you have requested my appearance for?"
"Oh yes, I almost forgot. I am sending you to Nottingham." John watched, amused, as Warren's face fell.
"Nottingham?" he stuttered. "I can't leave my sister in Marlborough, my lord." Warren took a deep breath and wondered what be worse, his sister's loneliness or Prince John's wrath? "With much appreciation for your consideration, I am afraid I have to refuse."
The older man laughed dryly. "This is not a job you can refuse. I am sending you to Nottingham. My words were not a question, they were an order."
"Um-how foolish of me, I am sorry. I misunderstood, when do you expect me to leave for Nottingham?"
"Since the outlaws are less likely to leave their fire during the cold, as soon as possible. Your possessions will be sent to Nottingham, hopefully arriving before you do." John smiled. "I gather from your infamous reputation that killing a few of Robin Hood's gang will be easy for you."
Warren's expression went cold. "Are you telling me that I must kill Robin Hood? Robin Hood? He will surely shoot me down before I even finger my weapon!"
"Are you showing signs of protest? Maybe this will go better than your experiences with my brother?" A hint of anger appeared in the prince's voice. "You are talking to the future king of England, Marlborough!"
"Forgive me, I am not thinking clearly today. My actions are wrong, you deserve more respect, my lord. I truly am regretful." The cat-and-mouse game of power and politics was none to be reckoned with. One wrong word and you could be ended. "It won't happen again."
"I am sure it won't. Next time, you'll be in my dungeons. You are a lucky man. I should throw you in there right now." John straightened in his chair. "Next time we meet, Hood will be dead or I will make you wish he was." He chuckled at the obvious fear in Warren's eyes. "Your precious sister will suffer for you."
Warren looked guiltily at the floor. "Because of my foolishness, she has suffered for me already."
"You don't grasp my meaning, Marlborough. She will suffer. I will torture and kill her. You truly are stupid to mention a weakness. Any weakness that is visible will be your downfall. A lover, a sibling, a parent? Anything could bring you down in this game."
"Thanks for the advice, my lord."
"I have not even started. Benedict Vaysey is ruefully cruel and heartless. His lieutenant, Sir Guy of Gisbourne, is a shadow of Vaysey, just as sadistic. Then again, Warren, I haven't selected you for your skill in running a castle. I selected you for your mercilessness and your deceitful past."
"My current self is much changed from when we last met." He chuckled, "Though the peasants may not think the same way."
"It is a shame you will have to snap back to old habits. Once I have made my decision, I have made it."
"I will have to go back to my old friends. Distrust, thievery, treachery, a lack of emotion."
"They are old friends of everyone who lusts for power, Warren."
"Yet, they are hidden and made to disappear when convenient. My dear sister hasn't given me a kind word since my last assignment of yours," he sighed. "Though I cannot blame her for anything accept falling in love with the wrong man." Warren smiled innocently. "I did what I had to do so that I would have a chance to succeed. If Robin of Locksley didn't get involved, my lord, you could be the king at this very moment."
"And that is precisely why you have to kill him. Those fools in Nottingham are not capable of such a task. They can't even run a functional shire."
"I feel intelligent in comparison." Warren laughed. "This might not be as hard as I thought after all. I have worked with Gisbourne in the past, he truly is incompetent."
"For your sake, I wish you well."
"Thank you, Robin Hood! You are a savior, Robin Hood! What would we do without you, Robin Hood?" All the peasants in Nettlestone ran out to greet their outlaws.
"It is my pleasure to help all of you! I am not happy unless everyone is happy." Robin handed a sack full of coins to a small child, "Buy yourself something to help you grow." He smiled and ruffled the child's hair.
"Master it is freezing out here!" Much shivered and looked out at all the tiny homes. "They have heat. Why don't we get heat? We stand out here in the cold instead of back in our nice warm camp." He noticed Robin wasn't listening. "Master!"
"Yes, Much."
"You weren't listening to me. I have to say-"
"Not now, Much." Robin walked away from his manservant and to the far end of the village. He was alone now. All of the villagers were in the village center, happily receiving daily necessities that they were deprived of. The other three outlaws were happily giving out money and food.
The outlaw walked by a familiar cottage and knew which way to turn. He knew this village better than his own. Marian's village. Robin knew every hiding place imaginable to escape from Edward, every way how to get into Knighton Hall, every way to sneak up on Marian when she least expected it. A sad smile appeared on his face as he reached his destination.
To a newcomer, it looked like an empty burnt patch of grass with the foundation of a home sprouting out of the soil. To Robin, this was where he went when he needed to be close to her. This was where he went when he felt like he couldn't keep fighting anymore. Even in death, Marian still had a tight hold on him. He still needed her, he still needed her reassurance.
Robin sat down and leant against the charred remain of the front wall. He could still remember everything like it was yesterday.
"Robin! Don't sneak up on me like that! I told you, I don't like it." Marian was serious but Robin could see the laughter waiting to bubble up behind the straight face. "I mean it." She let out a giggle.
He sat down on the bed, making his way from the window he had just climbed through. "Excuse me, my lady, but I am a bit tired after my climb."
"It is the middle of the night. You can't stay here." Marian quietly shut the door to her room and joined Robin on the bed. "I am a lady, Robin."
"And?" He leant over to kiss her, but got an unexpected slap across the face. Robin gave her his classic grin. "Marian, when we are married will you treat me like this?"
He could see her blue eyes sparkle in the moonlight. "What? Robin what are you saying?"
"I'm not saying anything. I'm asking you to marry me." Robin tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Can I have an answer?"
"Yes, Robin. My answer is yes!" Marian smiled and kissed him until she needed to come up for air. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Marian, is anything wrong? What's going on up there?"
"Nothing, father," she called. "Robin you have to leave." His betrothed push him off the bed and towards the window.
"Marian, Marian, Marian, I'm leaving." He slowly pulled himself over the window frame. The couple could hear Edward's footsteps approaching.
"Go!" She ran over to the window and pushed him out. There was a thud and then a groan. "Dear God! Robin, are you alright?"
He chuckled and looked up at her, staring down at him. "I landed on me feet, I'm perfectly fine. You sound like Much."
Robin heard the door to her room creak open and Edward enter. Marian gave him a hoarse whisper, "Leave now!"
"Aye, Robin! Come on now, it's cold out." Little John found him and interrupted his thoughts.
The outlaw leader rose from the ground reluctantly and headed back to camp with his gang.
Simon fidgeted and leaned against the door to Vaysey's chamber. The only bad thing about being Robin Hood's spy was having to stand for hours at a time. He yawned but then straightened himself and stood proudly. Gisbourne was striding towards them,
"Open the door, you oaf." The man in leather went past them and into the sheriff's room. "My lord, I have good news!"
The guard strained to hear. "And what is that, Gisbourne?"
"My men have killed one of Richard's messengers."
Simon could hear the sheriff clap his hands. "And what was his message?"
"Um…well, my lord…"
"Gisbourne, what was his message?" There was obvious irritation in Vaysey's voice. Simon was trying his best not to laugh.
"We did not think of that, my lord."
"Gisbourne! You don't just dispose of a messenger without getting his message first! Sometimes I wonder about you. How can one man have so much stupidity?" He heard a loud banging as the sheriff started throwing his possessions at his lieutenant.
"I am very sorry, my lord."
"You should be!" Simon cringed as Guy exited through their door and caught the other guard laughing at his conversation with Vaysey.
"Usher?" Gisbourne stood menacingly above the small man. "Do you find me amusing?"
"No, Sir Guy. I-I I saw a bird, you see. It flew right into the castle and then into a wall. It was the funniest thing I have seen in a long time." Albert Usher trembled under Gisbourne's angry glare.
"You can laugh about it on the gallows then," Guy smirked. "Guards!"
Simon stood openmouthed at Gisbourne's cruelty. Guy noticed, "Remember this, never mock me."
"Is it to your liking, Lady Margaret?" Alice smiled into the mirror after seeing the expression on her mistress's face.
"It is, thank you." Margaret returned the grin. "I hope I can look this lovely when my brother returns."
"You look lovely always." Little John's former wife would always be grateful for how Margaret had given her family a place to stay when they first arrived in Marlborough.
"You really are full of compliments today, Alice." The lady stood and went through the dresses piled on her bed. "Maybe you will even say that this dress is pretty." She looked disdainfully at the brown woolen dress her brother had purchased for her. "I swear, Warren doesn't think sometimes."
"The master maybe thought it would compliment your eyes?" Alice tilted her head to one side in thought. Lady Margaret's brown hair and eyes were almost the same color.
"No," she chuckled, "Warren is a man and has no idea of what women want."
"My husband is the same." The older woman brushed the wrinkles out of her skirt. "Luke gave me this ugly frock as a present."
Margaret's eyes sparkled. "We may have to treat ourselves then. How are Luke and John anyway?"
"They are well, my lady. John is enjoying his work under the friar. We hope that he will become a priest. How they grow up so quickly."
"I will have to visit him soon." She was fond of the child. "If he ever needs anything, just tell me. I am sure my brother will help." Margaret walked over to her window. She looked outside at the city. "The people seem happier since Warren has left and Prince John is in London. That is strange, is it not?"
Alice nodded, "It is strange." To her though, it really wasn't. Prince John was an example of Vaysey with more power and Sir Warren was just as bad as Gisbourne, only twice as sadistic.
She sighed and bit her lip. "Life hasn't been the same since our 'pilgrimage' to the Holy Land." Margaret turned so that Alice could not see her face. "Power will do anything to a man."
"I have seen my share of that," Alice frowned. What was Margaret talking about?
"You are from Nottingham?"
"Yes, my lady, Locksley."
"Then you must be familiar with Sir Guy of Gisbourne." She looked at her servant for approval. "He used to be a good man before he became involved with Benedict Vaysey." Margaret sighed again. "So did my brother before he met the prince."
Alice tried to think of the right words to say to her mistress at this time, but could not.
"I should not blame anyone for my brother." Margaret awkwardly looked down at her feet. "He made his choice."