Hello All.

Shizzali again. This time in the name of the wonderful BBC version of Robin Hood (2006).

It is intended to be a romantic piece, but i don;t want it to be too mushy, so i thought I'd put a little more story in that usual.


...Into Sherwood Forest

An owl cooed softly as the moon shone over Nottingham. Gillian watch as the guard passed the alley way she was cleverly concealed in. She took one deep breath, and wrapping her cloak around her sprinted to her next hiding spot, behind the tavern. She heard the sound of the drunken inhabitants waft out through a small window above. She peered through it. As she suspected, the room was packed to the rafters with people. She went around the front and swung the bar door open. She moved over to an empty bar stool and ordered a pint of mead. She pulled her hood tighter so her head was completely covered. She took the opportunity to check out the kind of tavern rats hanging about. A loud group of drunkards were gambling on dice in a dark corner, various other pub-goers sat, almost motionless, with clear cases of mead aftermath. A shrill laugh sounded and Gillian moved her head to the noise. A rather intoxicated bar maid had made herself comfortable upon the lap of a rather handsome young man. The man looked worn and tired, though his eyes held a great lot more than his physique gave away. He didn't seem too perturbed by her advances, though he didn't seem as drunk as the girl. His smile faded as the joke faded and his eyes wandered over to something a little more interesting than a giggling gertie. His brilliant blue eyes locked with her own green ones, and Gillian immediately looked away, turning slightly pink. She subconsciously slapped herself for letting herself to be so affected by a man.

"I fink you're in my sheet," Gillian turned and was faced with a bulging belly of a large man standing over her. Gillian looked past him and noticed his friend were all watching with intent. Obviously he had been put up to making some trouble.

"Last time I checked you weren't sitting here," Gillian turned back around and shared a worried look with the bartender.

"Well I want to sit there now. Mooooove," He pushed her in the back, sending her face first into her mead mug. This seemed to be hilarious to the big bellied man's company and a large cry of laughter sounded from the corner. Gillian chose to ignore him. She hoped he would lose interest if she didn't react.

"Hey, are you daft, I'm talking to you!" This was rather loud, and the other sounds of the bar began to dim. A fight was anticipated. He shoved her harder, and then harder again. Gillian had had enough.

"What's your problem buddy?"

"I already told you, you're sitting in my sheet,"

"No I'm not"

"Yes you are," He said in a sing-song tone

"Fine," Gillian turned again and stood "What if it is your seat? What are you going to do about it?"

She immediately regretted saying this, as next thing she knew she was sent sprawling onto the floor.

"That," The thug said and he made to push her gain, but Gillian was quick. Rolling onto her feet she made for an escape, but her exit was blocked by one of the great oaf's associates. His hand flew up, but Gillian caught it and kicked him in the stomach. He buckled over in pain and her way was free. But the drunk hadn't had enough. Suddenly Gillian was pulled back and thrown over to the corner were the blue eyed man had been sitting. Looking up she saw him peering down at her in surprise. His face turned to a frown and with speed only matched by her own, he flew up and planted a right hook to the big man's jaw. Gillian ceased the opportunity and shot out the door. The bartender had been watching intently and followed her out

"HEY! That's the last time you hit up my bar!"

As she burst out of the bar and ran to the left towards the gate out of the town. She heard running footfalls behind her and glanced back. Half a dozen guards were coming her way. The bartender had ratted her out. And not for the first time. She didn't want to spend any more time in the dungeons than she already had. She picked up the pace as the gate came into view. The guards behind her were shouting orders to the guards at the gate. Calculating the distance, she imagined she would be able to get through the large doors if she kept the same pace, if not faster.

10 metres away was clinch time. She dodged the first guard, and kicked the second. The third unsheathed his sword to which Gillian drew her dagger and blocked his blow to her side. The doors had started to close and with swift finesse she glided through the small gap. She landed safely on the other side and she stood, looking up at the great walls of town, cursing quietly. She kicked the large door and turned. There was Sherwood Forest straight ahead, if she was to got west she would be heading on the main road which eventually ended in London. If she was to go east she could go to Portsmouth and maybe earn a living there. Gillian shook her head and sighed. She knew she couldn't leave Nottingham, it held too many safe memories. She decided to brave the forest. Though from what people had been saying, Robin Hood and his outlaws were ruthless. With intense apprehension she made towards the large green mass.

The leaves crunched under her feet as she crept through the trees. It was daylight now, she had been wandering all night and came to a rest only once to tighten her shoes and adjust her belongings. She had come off the path, fearing if she had stayed it may have been easier for the outlaws to find her. She came to the middle of a clearing and before she had taken another step, she was flung into midair, hanging by her ankle. A scream emitted from Gillian and she soon regretted it, because a large man rounded a tree to the right. He was huge at least 7 feet, but granted her perception was a little off seeing as she was upside down. He came swaggering towards and Gillian was filled with fear. Why had she left the town? Why hadn't she just gone to Nettlestone, or Locksley, or…Clun? No, she thought, that was no longer an option.

"Robin!" The big man shouted. Gillian head shot to movement in the trees and Robin Hood came sauntering up next to the big man. Behind Robin came a short and stocky man. He carried himself cautiously, and shifted his eyes to every moving object. The short man surveyed Gillian, his eyes finishing at her roped foot. He chuckled.

"What have we here John?" Robin rubbed his chin and stood back, replicating the little man.

"I dunno. I think they're just a wanderer," stated the large man. It was strange how people talked as if you weren't there. Robin bent down to be level with her face.

"Why are you here?"

"Well I was just wandering around, minding my own business," Gillian began in an annoyed tone, "when my foot was grabbed by this contraption and here I am, suspended upside down,"

"She talks too well to be a commoner, maybe she's one of sheriff's advocate, or Gisborne's. It would make sense, he doesn't think we would hurt a girl," The little man pondered. The rest nodded.

"Or maybe I'm just a wanderer, like this one said," Gillian was trying in vain to think of anything she could say or do to get out of this one. Her options were running out though. John reached up and pulled her daggers out of her belt.

"She's armed, doesn't say wanderer to me," John turned the knives over in his hands.

"Hey you! Give those back," She made a swipe for them, but john pulled them out of arms reach, "they're one of a kind,"

"One of a kind? Sounds like a thief to me, or really rich. How else would she be able to afford anything one of a kind,"

"You're right Much. Okay John, we'll cut her down and take her to the camp,"

John positioned himself behind her holding one arm on her back. Robin fit an arrow to his bow and aimed to the rope holding Gillian. In one swift movement robin released the arrow and Gillian free fell into the arms of John. She let out of breathe of relief until she was thrown quite unceremoniously over the large man's shoulder. This she did not like. All the way back to the outlaw's camp, Gillian screamed profanities and insults to the air as she swayed on this man's shoulder. Eventually they stopped and she was thrown on the ground.

"Finally. That's no way to treat a wanderer. It just plain r-" She was pulled to her feet by Robin and pushed against a tree. The serf named Much ran over with rope and began to tie her.

"Oh great, more rope," Gillian sighed sarcastically and tried to move her way out of the restraints. No luck alas, and she was secured firmly to the tree.

For the next hour or so the men did various tasks and chores around the camp. On the third hour Gillian had gotten restless.

"Excuse me, but what do you hope to gain from tying someone to a tree?" Robin looked up and his face broke into a smile.

"There are a few advantages. But where you're concerned, if you are indeed a spy, we are holding you hostage,"

"Hostage? How many times do I have to tell you turds? I am NOT a spy, or advocate or in any relation to the sheriff and that Gisborne guy. Can you get that through you're thickheads?" Gillian stared around at them. They gave her an Much looked insulted

"We are not thick," Much spoke with an attempt to sound braver than he was.

"No of course not. Because really intelligent people tie innocent bystanders to trees!" Gillian laughed.

"If you are part of the system, people will come for you and we get an excuse to beat some more of the sheriff's men," John spoke as if joking. Gillian couldn't see what was so funny. She was tied up for god sake. She decided to annoy them out of they're silence and began talking of anything and everything. Every now and then Much would make to stop her, but Robin would give him a warning tone and the chattering continued.

The sun dropped closer to the horizon and Gillian heard the sound of someone approaching behind her and her tree.

"Someone's coming!" She shouted at the top of her lungs. Much jump half a foot and whipped around.

"It's just me," A voice sounded behind her. They rounded the corner and Gillian immediately recognised him as Blue Eyes, the man from the tavern. She knew he had recognised her, but he said nothing, and Gillian decided to do the same.

"All deliveries made. Close call with some officials, but everything's fine," Blue Eyes set down his sword. He spoke in a lazy accent, almost mumbling. He warmed himself by the fire, seeming to avoid eye contact with her. Gillian looked the other way too, not sure why there was such awkwardness between them.

"So who's this then?" Blue Eyes walked up to where she was standing, or rather forced to stand, and inspected her as the others had. Gillian felt especially uncomfortable under this man's gaze than she was with the others. She felt her cheeks turn pink and stared straight ahead.

"We think she might be a spy. It's a new tactic from the sheriff. He doesn't think we'll hurt a girl," Much informed blue eyes, and he chuckled. He raised his eyebrows at her, and she pulled a face.

"Doesn't seem like a spy," Blue Eyes walked over to stand next to robin, hands on hips. Gillian was about to agree with him

"Not pretty enough," He finished. Gillian felt like she had been slapped in the face.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME YOU PIECE OF FILTH!" She wanted a better insult, but in her anger she was at a loss.

Blue Eyes simply laughed and turned in for supper.

Gillian was filled with envy as they merrily ate and drank, joking and laughing. She envied more than jealousy of food. It was their closeness, their brotherhood. She wanted some sort of connection like that. As they started to turn in for the night, she realised she wasn't being moved.

"What are you going to do with me then?"

They all looked up at her, seeming to have forgotten she was there. Allan answered.

"Nothing, night night,"

"What?! You are just going to leave me. Tied to this wretched tree?"

"Yup," John affirmed.

"Right then," Gillian was now determined. She was going to do all she could to prevent them from getting even a wink of sleep. Therefore, she remained chattering.

"So how do you guys keep so well hidden? I mean this camp isn't exactly small, right? It's extremely clever though. Who made it? And that kitchen, must be great Much…If you were to come across the sheriff being eaten by ravenous dogs and a damsel in distress, who would you save. You can only pick one. And no cheating, mind…You know Nettlestone's quite a nice little village isn't it? Quaint. Real quiet. Oh that's right, half the villagers have been killed off on your behalf…So how bout this stick things little John. I mean, couldn't you afford a real weapon so you learnt how to weald a stick? Real impressive. I guess that's what all knives are, sharpened sticks when it all comes down to it. I remember when I would play with sticks with the other kids and pretend we were fighting the bandits and outlaws…"

Gillian was feeling tremendously chuffed, when she saw the men tossing and turning, attempting to block their ears. Every so often she would break into song.

"We all need to lobby to get rid of the knobby on Richard's rightful throne… come on join in…A realm of nothing-ham has become the Nottingham with the evil sheriff of cruelty-ham,"

"Enough!" Robin got up from his sleeping roll and walked over to Gillian. He unwrapped a piece of cloth from his forearm.

"What's that?" Gillian asked cautiously.

"A gag," Robin replied and soon enough he had wrapped the material firmly around her head, muffling her speech. Gillian shrieked. If she couldn't talk, she could still make sound.

She began to scream at irregular intervals. Somehow the gang became immune to her noise and they began to nod off. Gillian's throat was hurting, and every sound now wretched at her gullet.

Eventually, when all were asleep, she ran out of energy all together. As the embers of the fire began to die down, her heavy eyelids closed and she fell fast asleep.


Okay so there's the first chapter done. May i remind you that if i don;t get feedback, i usually lose interest. So in effect if you want this to keep going, REVIEW AND TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK!

Shizzali xox