Chapter One: Into The Woods

Djaq and Will were returning from delivering food to a family in Nettlestone whose three children had fallen ill. The pair walked in companionable silence with the horse that had carried the supplies. The sound of hooves suddenly filled the air. Will and Djaq made for the woods and hide themselves and the horse in the dark forest while soldiers guarding two carriages made a speedy journey past them. They turned left at the fork ahead.

"That road leads to Knighton" Whispered Djaq

"And to Marian." Finished Will

They tied the horse to the lowest branch and ran as quickly as possible behind the carriages. When they arrived at Knighton Hall they saw soldiers and Sir Guy leading Marian and her father to separate coaches.

"Father." Marian called out to her sire as she was forced by Guy and two of his cronies into one carriage, then chained and locked inside.

"Marian! Don't you dare lay a hand on her Gisborne! Marian!"

"She will be safe my Lord." Replied Guy as he walked forward and ordered his guards to take their leave. One carriage headed south the other north.

Djaq looked a Will "We must get back and tell Robin of this."

Will nodded his consent and they ran back to the horse as the horizon shown pink with the coming dawn. They made it to camp just as the sun peeked over the edge of the earth. Will swung his long legs from the horse then reached up and helped Djaq dismount. They rushed forward to see the early stirrings of the camp.

"They have taken Marian and Sir Edward!" Will and Djaq said in unison. Robin who was still laying in his blankets jumped up "What!" he exclaimed "Where?"

"We do not know," said Djaq

"But is was Gisborne who planed the whole thing. He chained them into different carriages and sent one south and the other north on the high road," finished Will.

"Gisborne is still raging about what happened" came Much's voice from beside the fire.

"This I do not like," was all John could say leaning on his staff.

"We need a plan, I really good scheme," Robin was muttering as he paced between two trees. "Where is Alan?" he asked.

"He went to...ahem…relieve himself," answered Much


Alan was making his way back to camp when he heard rustling in the shrubs. He stooped for a moment, when no sound came he kept going until her heard a very distinct human moan. Alan looked back over to where he had heard the rustling, he moved forward with his sword drawn. He noticed what seemed to be a large bundle of cloth, which then started to move. Startled Alan demanded, "Make yourself known!"

A strangled "please" was all he heard but that was enough, for it was a woman in pain. He sheathed his sword and moved around the low shrub. What he saw boiled his blood and broke his heart all at the same time. She was young, maybe twenty, her light brown hair was mattered with blood and dirt. She lay crumbled on her side shivering. Alan carefully rolled her to face him. She had been severely beaten. Her face was swollen, blood trailed from her temple and her lip. One arm was bent at a strange angle and the other was clutching a wound at her side, blood could be seen between her long fingers.

"Please" she pleaded again, "Don't hurt me."

"Never" was Alan's response, "I'm going to help you." As gently as possible Alan lifted the girl in his arms, cradling her to his body. She groaned against his neck as he carefully but swiftly headed back to camp.


Robin was till pacing while the others sat around the fire, trying to determine a course of action, every moment that passed brought Sir Edward and Marian farther away.

"We could just split up and save both of them," Offered Much

"So they could come and be outlaws with us?" asked Will

"Well what is you great idea Sir Carpenter?" asked Much. Will was about to answer when Alan was heard coming down the hillside.

"Djaq! Robin! Will! Someone help!"

Will ran up the hill to meet his friend to see him carrying a body. One look at the girl had Will pale "Djaq we need you!" he yelled. The others had gathered at the bottom of the hill as Alan and Will made there way down. Djaq could tell from her position that this was no little fever she was dealing with.

"Bring her to my blankets they are closet to the fire," Djaq ordered.

As Alan set her down the girls' eyes began to flutter and roll back, "You must keep her awake, talk to her. Will clean bandages, Much boil water, John I need my kit, Robin a water skin go!" As Djaq gave orders Alan was attempting to keep the young woman awake.

"Hello, what's your name?"

"Emma," she coughed "Emma Fox."

"Emma, I am Alan A Dale."

"Alan."

"Yes."

"Thank you, I did not," she coughed again "want to die alone."

"You will not die, not today." He tried to sound assured but the way Djaq was looking at her he was starting to doubt it some himself. He noticed her eyes begin to close again.

"Where are you from Emma?"

"Dorchester."

"I have a cousin from that area. Bit of a drunk but a good story teller."

Emma smiled slightly at that but then winced and groaned heavily. Alan looked down to find Djaq cleaning out the deep wound on Emma's side. Alan glanced up at her friends who stood around the other side of fire staring with concerned eyes toward the three of them.

"Are you injured anywhere else beside your side and arm?" asked Djaq.

"My leg."

Djaq lifted her skirt to find a large burn on Emma's left calf.

"Who did this to you?" Djaq demanded. Alan realized that was the first time anyone realized to ask that question.

"The Sheriffs men." She then screamed as Djaq tended the wound. Alan stroked her hand and kept her gaze locked on his.

"Why?" he asked

"To get information from the earl."

"So they tortured you, in front of him." Said Robin, "Why you?"

"They thought…ahh…I was his…gahhh…mistress."

"Enough questions, I must stitch the wound," ordered Djaq.


Djaq had finally finished tending to Emma, who now slept from exhaustion, blood loss and pain. Alan had not left her and still sat besides her, watching. Djaq had gone down to the river to wash, shortly after Will had disappeared; no one questioned it. Robin held conference with the others.

"Much, you and I will go into Nottingham and see what we can find out. John you are to go to Knighton and do the same. Will shall go to Locksley, see what Gisborne is plotting. Alan and Djaq will stay and watch over the girl.


Will watched as Djaq washed her arms and face in the stream.

"You still spying on me Will?" she asked as she turned around wiping the excess water from her skin.

"Can't help it," was his only defense.

She walked up to him and placed a hand over his heart; in-turn he covered hers with his.

"You were amazing back there." He whispered

"Let just pray she lives, they hurt her very badly in - many ways. Her body was not the only thing they broke."


While Alan and Djaq sat vigil the other men made their ways to discover just where and why Marian and Sir Edward where taken. Much and Robin stood cloaked in the alley near the market. The gates opened to reveal some of the local lords proceeding into the main keep. This meeting could explain some of the mystery. The pair decided to take their favored rout into the castle. The men made their way through the kitchen window, the cook Margaret was a good friend to them at this point, and merely nodded as the snuck past.
Will stood behind the woodpile behind Locksley Manor. Two laundry maids came from the back door.

"Can you believe he sent her all the way to Whitby?

"He said it was the safest place, and once she has redeemed herself he will go and marry her there."

"Poor child," said the elder one "To be taken from her home and her father with the only comfort of marriage to that…monster."

"Especially when she could have Lord Robin." Giggled the younger woman.

"Aye Robin is a fine man." She agreed.

"But I still prefer the carpenter's son; I like the strong silent type."

Will blushed at the comment but know he had a location for Marian, Whitby. He silently made his way back to camp.


Little John walked around the remains of Knighton Hall. Marian and her father had been taken by force. Their affects had been hasty packed or thrown about by the mad rush. A very shaken tenant who John had spoken to said he heard Gisborne's men mention taking his lord to London but nothing more. John did not like this, not one bit.
When the gang had reassembled around the fire they shared their information.

"The tenet was right John; the Sheriff is sending Sir Edward to London as his new advisor to the court of Prince John. Just a good excuse to get him out of the picture without causing trouble," explained Robin

"By the way John, Margaret says hello," Much smiled at the large man who was blushing.

"Marian was sent to Whitby by Gisborne," Will told the group.

"Whitby? What in the world is in Whitby?" asked Robin as he looked into the fire.

"St. Hilda's" came a very week voice. Every head turned to Emma who had turned her head toward the fire. "A convent." She explained

"A convent!?" chorused the group.

Why do things never seem to get any easier? Thought Robin.


A/N So there you have it. Though I hope for a happy ending after watching the final eposide I can only imagine what the Sheriff and Gisborne are going to do. I hope you liked it. If you do I will keep writing.

love moonfey