First chapter. FINALLY. :)
Sorry that the beginning of this series is kind of crap, but it soon changes - I'm not just shoving Marian into every possible moment of the series.
For those of you who don't know, the prologue to this story is called A Little Bit Different - A Different Start and you can find it on my stories page :) I suggest reading that first.
And this is the beginning of Series 3 with Marian =]
'Robin – stop!'
'You can't kill him!'
'No, Robin!'
Robin's running faltered and he turned to the others, a suddenly vulnerable look on his face as he glanced at each of them, avoiding Marian's eyes. She knew that he was going to do this. But still, what if he was killed? They had only just escaped death once, this couldn't happen again.
'He has to die,' he snapped. 'He almost killed Marian, he killed Will and Djaq. He deserves to die. Gisbourne dies today.' He grabbed Marian's hand and took a sharp breath.
'We go to Locksley – now.'
Robin ran all the way to Locksley, the others trailing behind him as fast as they could. Marian was fast enough to stay by his side, but once they reached Locksley, he dropped her hand and pulled his bow from his shoulder.
'Robin, you don't have to do this,' she said quietly, putting a hand on his cheek and trying to turn him to look at her.
He looked up at her with a pained expression.
'Yes, I do, Marian,' he said, his voice low and firm. 'I have to kill him. I'm making sure that this never happens again. It's bad enough that Will and Djaq . . .' he sighed. 'If he had killed you too, I'd have no life.'
Marian tried to say something but faltered. He was ridiculously stubborn when he wanted to be. 'Yes, you would. You'd still have England, and the King. And John, Much, All –'
'No, I wouldn't,' Robin said, copying her action and putting one of his hands on her cheek. 'There would be no point anymore.'
A door swung open opposite them and a young red headed girl stood there, looking at the sight in front of her curiously. Robin span around, arrow poised in her direction. The girl didn't even move; she simply stared on just as curious as she had been before. Marian shook her head impatiently and put a hand on Robin's arm, pushing his arrow down.
'Stop this, Robin, she will get scared.'
Robin lowered his bow shakily, not taking his eyes off the girl as he did. Then he suddenly dropped his bow by his side and kissed Marian quickly before pulling away and stroking her cheek once. Marian opened her mouth to say something, but it was too late. He let go of her, picked up his bow again and fired an arrow through Gisbourne's window. Much staggered out of the forest at that point, breathing heavily and quickly as Allen and John fell out behind him, Allen tripping over and onto Much. Marian turned to them, a desperate expression on her face.
This had to stop. They had just spent months travelling; Robin was in no fit state to go starting a fight. But he was set on this idea. And when Robin decided something, he wouldn't change his mind for any reason.
'Gisbourne!' Robin bellowed.
Allen grabbed Marian's arm and pulled her backwards so she was hidden from sight in the trees, but she tugged her arm away. However she didn't emerge from the trees, she watched as Robin stared at Locksley Manor.
'He's serious about this,' Much whispered. Marian nodded, not seeming able to find any words in herself. She couldn't help but play a single scene in her mind, one she had been dreading for months as they travelled back to England from the Holy Land. It was imaginary for the moment, but she had a feeling it would soon be reality. Robin, lay dying – seriously injured as Gisbourne raised a sword over him. But she didn't care about Gisbourne; he could die for all she cared now. He had tried to kill her. And she had spent all that time trying to convince Robin there was some good left in him . . .
'Robin's always serious, Much,' Allen muttered.
There was a series of bangs as Gisbourne emerged from the house, his hair much longer and much shaggier than it had been before. He staggered a bit, as though drunk, although Marian very much doubted that. He was clutching a sword though. That's what caught her eye first. His eyes travelled around the village, before coming into focus on the series of shadows where Marian, Much, Allen and John were hiding. But his eyes focused on Marian, who was staring at Robin in horror now. Then he lurched forwards in rage.
There were clinks and clanks of metal on metal as they fought. Marian tried to get to them, to get to Robin, to hurt Gisbourne – when John grabbed her and pulled her back into the shadows.
'No, let me go, John!' she snapped fiercely.
'No! He is stupid to be doing this, but he's doing this for you! If you go and get killed, the fight will just get worse, Marian.'
Marian struggled relentlessly but slowly came to a stop, turning to look up at John with wide eyes. Eventually, she sighed, lowering her tense arms. John loosened his grip on her, too, and Marian took the chance to try and run forwards again. This time it took Allan and John to keep her back. She glared at them.
'We need to help him!'
Allan looked down at the struggling woman in his arms before looking back at John. Marian was oblivious to it all, though, still struggling. Much had his hands on his head as he stared at Robin and Gisbourne fighting.
'John, maybe we should –'
'No.'
'But –'
'No! Not Evangeline!'
Marian stared, gaping, as Gisbourne grabbed the small red-headed girl from earlier, throwing her over his shoulder before starting to run up the hill. Robin tore after him and the villagers lagged behind, trying to keep up with the two men. Much looked over at John before shaking his head and starting to run after his 'master' and enemy.
Forgetting his job of restraining Marian, Allan tore after him, and John had no choice but to join them. Marian started running, too, and soon all of them were overtaking the villagers of Locksley as they raced to get to Robin and Gisbourne.
. . . and after this, everything changes :P
Please review! I promise that this will get much better. Seriously. Promise.
SERIES THREE WITH MARIAN IS UNDERWAY! (: