Hello everyone!

Here I am with the first chapter of a *another* multichap. Yes, I know I really should be working on Pink Sky in the Morning and the second chapter of The Swan Princess, but this idea just came out of pretty much no where. This is the first story where I've had little trouble coming up with a series of events to suit the plot or vice versa. Does anyone else get that?

Thanks to IDreamOfFantasy, MadChick, eleroo02, Lizhi Anne and LittleMissTomboy for all their help in one way or another.

Aww, I want to make some other comments about this story too, but I'm going to have to wait until at least chapter 3 to mention them so I don't give anything away. But I guess I should mention that despite appearances this story wasn't originally meant to be focussed on Robin, but instead on Will, Djaq and Allan. I don't mind though lol, Robin gave this story a good direction.

Warnings mild violence, coarse language, character deaths and of course it's AU.

All that said, I hope you enjoy it!

Robin stared down on the sprawling town of Locksley. Lights from the buildings cast a dim glow in the twilight and smoke rose from the numerous chimneys lending the air a woody scent. It was a welcome change from the Holy Land, where cries of the dying and injured fill the air with agony and the scent of blood and fear hung so thick in the air it felt as though you were breathing it in.

Home sweet home he thought urging his horse, Bruno, over the rise and along the wooded path that led to Locksley Manor. Bruno moved along the path eagerly, he knew he was finally headed home and snorted with pleasure. Reaching out Robin grasped a branch of a silver leafed bush as he passed, letting the foliage slip through his fingers and they moved past.

Robin couldn't believe he was so close to home, he wished he could share Bruno certainty that home was still there. After the horrors he had seen it was hard to believe that anything was certain anymore. He was jumping at shadows, twitching at sudden noises, fidgeting uneasily in the saddle as the countryside rolled past. Bruno tossed his head impatiently.

As they passed through the gates which marked the beginning of Locksley land Robin leant forward and rubbed the bay's neck, "Easy boy, we're almost home," he whispered. Home. The word felt alien in his mouth. Robin sighed, he thought he would be happy to be home, but instead he could feel things he pushed out of his mind fighting to get back in. Now that he had let his guard down he could feel the memories pressing forward, willing him to face them.

Bruno stopped suddenly and Robin nearly toppled from the saddle, a sure sign that he was agitated. "What is it boy?" Robin asked, knowing full well that he wouldn't be able to understand the answer anyway. Eyes straining he peered into woods surrounding him, trying to see what the horse had sensed in the rapidly fading light.

A twig snapped and he turned in the saddle, "Who's there?" he called into the night. Bruno snorted uneasily and pawed the ground. Silently Robin reached back and withdrew and arrow from the quiver that rested on his back. He might have left the war, but the war hadn't left him, not yet.

"Who's there?" he called again, "Show yourself!" Another twig snapped and Robin swung to its direction and loosed an arrow in the looming darkness. He felt stupid, jumping at shadows and even stupider trying to skewer one with an arrow, but he felt certain there was something out there. Bruno tossed his head again and Robin reached out with one hand to steady himself.

He waited a moment, but whatever it was must have moved on, because beneath him Bruno relaxed. Robin took his cue from the horse and together they pushed forward once more. They had only gone a short way when Bruno gave a snort and picked up his pace, breaking into a trot as they rounded bend in the path. There was a mounted figure on the path ahead, moving towards them.

Robin made to check Bruno back but the tired horse broke into a light canter and whinnied happily, quickly closing the gap between the two horses. As the horses drew alongside Robin finally recognised the silhouette of the other rider.

"Thornton?"

"Master Robin is that you?" The older man raised a torch and shone it at Robin, his eyes scrunched up in concentration as he squinted through the shadows. The manservant's eyesight had been going downhill since before Robin had left for the Holy Land, in fact Robin was surprised the man was still working. He had been certain that the loyal manservant would retire before he returned, from blindness if anything else, but Robin had been proven wrong and Thornton finally proclaimed, "It is you!"

"Yes, it is Thornton. The one and only," Robin said smiling.

"Oh it is good to see you safe and well," the man said turning his horse to ride with Robin back to the manor, "You are well aren't you?" He peered suspiciously at his lord and master through the dimness and Robin he knew he was being examined for any injuries.

"I'm fine, really," Robin replied, "Just a little tired," he glanced back over his shoulder, "What about the gate?"

"Oh, I'll just send one of the young lads to get it, it is their job after all," Thornton shrugged and Robin allowed himself a small smile. No doubt the proud old manservant had insisted on shutting the gate ever since they had received news that Robin was on his way home and had wanted to be the one to accompany the master of the manor home.

They rode on in relative silence, until Robin plucked up the courage to ask, "How is Much, Thornton. I haven't heard from him since he...since he was sent back,"

Thornton's face clouded slightly and he didn't look Robin in the eye as he answered, "He was sent to London, master," Thornton didn't elaborate and Robin didn't push him for information. It was another memory he wanted to put off facing for as long as possible.

Finally Locksley Manor came into sight, and with a final burst of speed Bruno cantered the final leg to the stables. The moment Robin swung from the saddle he was swept inside amidst a flurry of enviably energetic servants, willing to serve his every whim. It was almost as though they were as happy for him to be home as he was, or at least he should have been. It hadn't quite sunk in yet that he was really home; it was as though everything was passing by in daze, maybe even a dream and Robin didn't want to look too closely just in case he woke up and it really was a dream.

Reactions born of necessity kicked in the moment Robin heard movement, he was sitting up, his hand reaching for the blade he kept by his bedside ...and then he saw Abbey. She stood in the doorway, somewhat startled by his sudden movements.

"Sorry, master, I didn't mean to scare you!" she exclaimed moving into the room cautiously.

"No, it's okay," Robin said, slightly embarrassed by his reaction. He sunk back into the bed and its welcoming warmth, struggling to remember the steps that had led to him to his bed. It was a blur.

Abbey moved to the window, and drawing the heavy curtains aside opened it, letting the soft morning breeze into the room.

"Would you like me to run a bath for you, master?" she asked, turning back from the window.

"Yes, thank you Abbey," Robin nodded, "I'm going out to check something and I'll have it when I get back,"

"Yes master," Abbey curtsied and left Robin alone in the room.

As the door clicked shut behind her Robin reached for the leather cord that hung around his neck and drew a small pouch out from under his shirt. He had learned long ago that this was the best way to transport, and if need be conceal, money and other precious items. Reverently he placed the worn leather pouch on the palm of his other hand and opened it. Reaching inside he drew out an old piece of cloth.

Turning it over revealed it was a piece of embroidery. Amateur embroidery, but embroidery all the same. It was supposed to be a red rose but it looked like little more than tangled red knots. Robin smiled at it, turning it over and over in his hands childhood memories playing in his mind.

"Marian! Why won't you come and play?" A young Robin whinnied, Much trailing close behind. Marian huffed and kept walking, trying to ignore the two boys.

"Marian!" Robin ran up and stood in front of her, blocking her path.

"I can't," she replied bluntly.

"Why?"

"Mother says I have to learn to be a lady," Marian said matter-of-factly.

"Be a lady? But that's so boring!"

"It is not!"

"Yes, it is! You don't get to do anything fun,"

"Yes we do,"

"Really? Like what?"

"We… get to sit around and talk,"

"Is that it?"

"No! They're teaching me embroidery! That's fun!"

"No it isn't you said you hate embroidery. You can't do it anyway,"

"Yes I can, look!" Marian held it out proudly, the knot of red stitches on a scrap piece of cloth.

"What is it?" Much asked.

"It's a rose, like the ones that grow outside the church," Marian told him smiling as he looked at the cloth.

"Oh, those ones that smell really nice?"

"Yes, those ones,"

"It kind of looks like vomit," Robin said squinting at it. Marian and Much stopped chatting and looked at him. Marian's face turned as red as the thread.

"It does not!" she yelled.

"I t does too!" Robin yelled back, "You can't do embroidery!"

"I can! I can! I'm going to be a lady and do embroidery!"

"You're not a lady!"

"You're so mean!" Marian threw the cloth in the dirt at his feet and ran, tears streaming down her face. Robin angrily kicked more dirt onto the cloth, he only wanted to play, but Marian would rather sit around and talk and do embroidery than play with him!

"Come on, Much. Let's go and play somewhere else," Robin said turning away.

"What about her embroidery?" Much asked indignantly.

"Leave it," Robin said angrily.

"You should give it back to her," Much insisted, good natured even then.

"I don't want to," Robin pouted.

Much held it out to him and gave him that look, "I won't ever forgive you if you don't give it back to her," he said decidedly.

"Fine." Robin snatched it away and pushed it into his pocket.

The truth was he never did apologise. And he never did give the 'rose' back to her.

Sighing Robin tucked the fabric away again and began to dress. He wasn't a child anymore, he'd have to face her sooner or later, he knew. When he had finished dressing he pulled on his coat and headed out the door.

Outside the autumn air was crisp, his breath showing in the air. Gravel crunching beneath his feet he moved out of the courtyard and along the path that had led him home the previous evening, digging his hands deep into his pockets for warmth.

A few minutes of rapid walking brought him to where he had fired his arrow. Veering off the path into the under growth Robin searched. Then he found what he was looking for. There, buried into a tree, was the arrow.

Robin stepped forward to claim it and then stopped.

The ground around the base of the tree was scuffed. And there, half buried in the dirt was a piece of black cloth. It looked as though it had been torn from a cloak or a piece of similar clothing. Robin squinted closer, was that...blood?

He stood up, and glanced around and then stopped. Whoever it was would be long gone by now. The arrow obviously hadn't injured them too badly, maybe just nicked the skin or something similar.

But that wasn't what worried him.

Pretend that this is a witty request for reviews and that it worked.