Plot Summary: The Doctor and Martha land in 1192. Meet Robin Hood…well you know that that's going to be fun.
Author Note: Ok so don't sue me if someone's done this already…I haven't read it so I can't have stolen it entirely, if I'm honest I did get the idea from an Icon I saw on LJ classicsgeek created it. Ok so basically this is a Doctor Who, Robin Hood Crossover how fun is that?! Set during S2 –Edward's dead but Marian's back in the castle so after Lardner's Ring- of Robin Hood and S3 of Doctor Who so we have Martha, and mentions of Rose. –sighs- I refuse to do a Donna fic.
Disclaimer: I don't own Doctor Who or Robin Hood, oh how I wish I did.
The Stuff of Legend
Chapter one: A Forest 1192
The TARDIS groaned as it thudded to earth in the middle of a wooded area, Martha looked at the display screen and raised an eyebrow at the Doctor, she couldn't see anything special about it; "You promised me exciting." She whined, the Doctor frowned.
"And when have I ever let you down before?" he asked grinning, Martha was about to answer when the Doctor rushed past her to open the door; "We're in 1192, about a mile away from Nottingham…" he paused hoping that she'd cotton on soon; "Oh come on Martha." He said sighing as he stepped out, she was quick to follow.
Her eyes were suddenly wide as she realised where they were; "OHMY…Robin Hood?!" she looked suddenly very pleased; "Oh Sir you have certainly out done yourself this time, I loved Robin Hood stories as a child- grew up watching the Disney movie," the Doctor gave her a funny look; "The one with the fox?" the Doctor laughed.
"I preferred Robin Hood men in tights myself." Martha snorted and muttered something that sounded like; 'you would'. The Doctor however wouldn't have heard her as he was already walking off towards the sound of talking; "You coming?" he called back as he climbed over a small ridge. He looked over it and could see smoke rising from what he assumed was the outlaw's camp Martha wasn't far behind now, she struggled up the ridge to stand beside him; "How would you like to meet some outlaws?" he asked her, she grinned and nodded, the Doctor looked down at his blue suit and thought for a moment; "Do you think I'll stand out?" Martha thought about being honest, but she wasn't sure if she could wait while he changed his clothes.
"You'll do fine," she took his hand and ran down the other side of the slope towards the camp; "this is mad, I'm about to meet Robin Hood. All those people who say he isn't real will have to eat their words." The Doctor gave her a look; "Or at least they would have to, that is if I could tell any of them." The Doctor nodded and led her towards the outlaw camp, he dropped her hand as she was suddenly hoisted upwards the Doctor looked back at her stunned.
"Wh…what are you doing up there?" he asked, Martha however did not see the humour in the situation.
"GET ME DOWN!" she screeched.
"I…eh would but, oh hello, I was wondering if you could…" the Doctor paused realising who this was he was facing; "Robin Hood I resume?" he asked the man who had an arrow trained on him.
"Got it in one, and you are?" Robin asked taking a step towards the Doctor and his flailing companion.
The Doctor smiled and extended a hand, he realised that Robin wasn't about to take it and withdrew it quickly and ran it through his hair; "I'm the Doctor." He told Robin and cast a glance up at Martha; "And that is Martha, you couldn't let her down could you?" he asked Robin quirked an eyebrow but nodded to someone the Doctor couldn't see to let Martha down.
"That was not fun!" Martha grumbled rubbing under her arms, she sighed and moved to stand beside the Doctor. She soon noticed that there wasn't only one person with an arrow pointed at them but 3 including Robin, there was also a fairly large man holding a staff in a threatening manner; "Uh Doctor," she tugged on his sleeve, he nodded he was fully aware that they were surrounded.
Robin's bow was still raised and it didn't look like he was about to lower it; "Look here Robin, we are not a threat to you, honestly," the Doctor had placed himself more or less in front of Martha now not completely trusting that Robin wouldn't shoot; "I'll explain all, if you put your bow down," he paused and Robin lowered it slightly, he couldn't explain why but he trusted this stranger.
"Stand down." Robin called to his men; "Who are you really? And what are you doing in our forest?"
"Master?!" a small man with a hat on, blond hair poking out from underneath it scrambled over; "Surely you cannot trust him, he's a stranger, he could be working for the Sheriff or Gisbourne."
"I trust him Much, I don't know why, don't ask me to explain it, but I trust him." Robin told his former man servant.
The Doctor gave Robin and Much one of his famous grins; "Thank you, right, um I am really the Doctor, it's my name, and well we're travellers," the Doctor's explanation left a lot to be desired but Robin seemed to accept it; "so you are the famous Robin Hood!" the Doctor stated and Robin nodded taking the hand that the Doctor offered him this time.
"This is my gang," Robin pointed to the people who had moved closer and now flanked Robin; "Will, Little John, Djaq and Much of course."
The Doctor's grin was genuine; "It's very nice to meet you all, I've read so much about you." Martha rolled her eyes, she could already tell that this would be one of those days were the Doctor would end up telling the whole truth, and that this meant people would think they were mad, or in this case probably accuse them of witch craft.
"Read?" Robin looked confused; "What has been written about us?"
"Oh you're famous, history boo…" he trailed off realising that this was not going well, he swallowed hard; "History um books tell of your famous adventures in Sherwood forest with your band of outlaws…um, ok you think I'm crazy don't you?" he asked and Robin who had taken a step away from him nodded slowly.
"Ok, this will sound totally mad…" Martha interrupted but was interrupted herself by the Doctor.
"Martha, we can't.
"You've already put your foot in it!" Martha bit back.
"Would you mind telling us what's going on?" Much asked clearly speaking for the confused group.
The Doctor turned to the group and sighed; "It might be best to do this while sitting down, could we possibly go to your camp?" Robin looked slightly taken-a-back but he shrugged and nodded agreeing. Martha and the Doctor herded by John and Will followed Robin to the secret camp, will moved away to pull the leaver that opened the camp; "Oo, very impressive." The Doctor sounded genuinely impressed.
Will smiled; "Thank you."
Martha looked at the boy strangely; "Doctor does he remind you of anyone?"
"It's not polite to stare Martha." The Doctor reprimanded, but he could see it too; "Have we met before?" he asked taking out his glasses and placing them on his nose so that he could study the young man's face.
"I…er…I don't think so." Will said looking slightly flustered.
"Baines!" Martha cried pleased with herself; "He looks like Baines, but didn't you turn him into a scarecrow."
The Doctor smirked as the others all looked astounded; "Figuratively speaking of course, because that would be strange…but I'm sure that he just looks like Baines, or…he could be a distant relative…" the Doctor trailed off this explanation was going to be harder than usual, he could see Djaq looking at his glasses with interest; "Right, ok don't stop me even if what I say makes no sense to you at all, ok?" the gang all nodded and the Doctor smiled; "Right, I…am…er" he sighed not knowing how to tell them that he was a time traveller, that he was from a different planet and that the woman stood beside him was from the 21st century, it would certainly confuse them to put it lightly.
"He's a Time Lord." Martha began for him; "He's the last Time Lord to be exact, he comes from far, far away further than any of you could possibly imagine, his home was destroyed in a great war along with all of his people, we travelled through time to get here in his space ship which is called a TARDIS; standing for- Time And Relative Dimensions In Space…" Martha trailed off, and Robin laughed but there was no humour in his laughter.
"You can't be serious?!" he asked looking at her incredulously.
"I spoke no word of a lie…oh and I'm from the 21st century, it's the year 2008 where I'm from, and as unbelievable as this may seem to you it's all true." The Doctor smiled at her, he was proud.
"Who wins?" Robin asks, the Doctor quirks an eyebrow at him; "You said you'd read about me in the history books, I'm fighting against the Sheriff and Gisbourne…who wins?" he asks again.
The Doctor looked slightly stunned, Robin looked as if he almost believed him; "I can't tell you, it could change the course of history…I can however tell you that your story has been told and re-told over the years, there's a cartoon, films, BBC TV series." These words all meant nothing to Robin but he found himself smiling.
"Master, surely you can't be buying this?!" Much asked him incredulously.
Robin looked at him and smiled; "They have no reason to lie to us, it would gain them nothing." He said with an air of certainty.
The Doctor nodded along; "He's right you know, it would do us no good to lie," he paused and smiled at the group; "it is very nice to meet you all." He told them. Djaq smiled and extended a hand for the Doctor to shake, he did so without hesitation. Much still looked very sceptical and while the others moved around the camp smiling and laughing among themselves Much hung back watching the newcomers, this 'Doctor' and the girl, what kind of name was Doctor anyway, surely it was simply a title and not just a name. The Doctor seemed to sense his unease and moved over to sit beside him, Much tried not to shift away from him; "Much?" the Doctor questioned knowing full well who he was addressing. Much looked up at him slowly; "I know you don't trust me," the Doctor's tone was lowered Much was grateful to the stranger for this, he did not want his Master to know that he was doubting his judgment; "as yet I have given you no reason to," the Doctor continued; "you have every reason not to trust me, you've all been through a lot and for that I'm sorry, I'm sorry that there are people like the Sheriff in the world, cruelty isn't inherent, but to some people it is all they know. I am not one of those people, I'm sure I can help you." The Doctor was making promises and Martha had overheard him. She wondered what exactly they could do to help them? The Doctor wasn't a big fan of violence and she was sure that he wouldn't change history for fear of creating a paradox. Martha hoped that Much would not hold the Doctor to his word, because she was all to aware of the consequences it could have. Martha looked over at the man who claimed to be Robin Hood, she'd read and heard many different versions of his life story some said that he was killed by the Sheriff's sister, while others say that he marries Marian has a few children and then dies of old age, Martha hopes that the latter is the correct version of this man's life, she was already beginning to like him.
"Why the long face?" Martha jumped as the Doctor addressed her, he grinned and nudged her good naturedly.
"No reason." She muttered giving him a witheringly look whilst place one hand over her rapidly beating heart.
He raised an eyebrow at her; "No really, what's up?" he asked showing some genuine concern.
She smiled at him sadly; "How are we supposed to help them?" she asked him; "I mean without changing history?" Then a roar ripped through the camp, and the Doctor visibly winced; "Oh, don't tell me we?" Martha didn't even bother finishing the question the Doctor had already darted off in the direction of the noise the outlaws were not far behind.
A/N: oooer trouble in Sherwood. Eeee. What on earth...has the Doctor broughtto Sherwood Forest? Reviews are very very nice.
