Angels Cry by Rosa17
AN: Again another story I wrote shortly after the first UK airing of series 2. This is the first story of two.
Setting: This picks up in series 2, episode 10 Walkabout and is a bit of a 'what if' things had been different kind of story.
Prologue
The woman stood trembling before the priest, this was not how a wedding day should be, forced as an emergency to save her life. A life she was willing to sacrifice for the poor of Nottingham but here she was under Will's insistence marrying a man she loathed and despised to keep herself alive. She swallowed the bile which floated up her throat and looked at the groom beside her. The only thread of love in this relationship was his so called love for her, an unrequited love. The thought of spending the rest of her life with a man such as this filled her not only with dread but disgust. She knew underneath it all there was a better man struggling to get out, but she did not love him, not that way, the way he wanted her to. She loved Robin Hood. She was going to marry Robin Hood. She fingered the ring that he had given her in the tree, she clenched onto it tight in her right hand, feeling as if it was the only thing left of the man who held her heart, mind and soul. The priest raised his over large hood in her direction as Gisborne's attention was taken momentarily by a guard and suddenly she knew that whatever happened after this ceremony, everything would somehow work out despite it all.
0o0
The army surrounded the city walls and Gisborne and Marian rode out from within leaving the people at the mercy of the army. Allan stood at the gate feeling nauseous; at the final time of destiny here he was manning the city by himself. There was no sign of the Sheriff, and Gisborne had just ridden off into the sunset with Marian. And where was Robin? Allan shuddered as he felt someone walk over his grave, a grave that could very soon be reality. He gave one final look at the impending invasion and ran screaming to all who could hear that 'they' were here.
0o0
Little John heaved the body of the Sheriff onto a horse and Robin took both sets of reins to take them back to Nottingham, not that it would do a lot of good. The sun had almost set and bringing the Sheriff back in the state he was in would not save the people of Nottingham now. He had failed them, his men, England, Marian and most of all himself.