Doncaster – Yorkshire –Doncaster Forest

Robin froze and he all but gasped his question, "Marian's uncle hired you to kill all of us?"

Elian smirked, "The Sheriff of Nottingham has threatened to kill him if he doesn't deliver your bodies by Monday sundown..." he chuckled, "All except the lady Marian. He wants her to appease Guisborne..."

Robins sword was so hard at the man's throat it nearly drew blood.

Robin was incensed, "What?"

"That is revolting." Much finally seemed to realise just what this meant as Elian wheezed under Robins sword tip.

The man beneath Robin was gasping for breath, the outlaw's blade cutting off some of the oxygen which would normally enter and leave his body without difficulty.

"The Sheriff of Nottingham has blackmailed Geoffrey with his life to kill you all," He swallowed awkwardly, "He knew he could get the lady Marian to lead you all here, he resides in the Doncaster castle... he awaits your bodies. If you are not there by Monday's end, Geoffrey will die."

Robin froze and stared at Elian, not relaxing his position one bit.

The other outlaws looked panicked.

"Robin... Robin what are we going to do..." Will demanded.

Alan and Much both watched their leader as he pushed off of Elian roughly, after knocking him hard on the side of the head, rendering him unconscious.

Robin winced as he moved his pulsing shoulder.

"I need to speak to Geoffrey."

Doncaster – Yorkshire –Thorne Manor

Servants bustled around the manor as Marian walked down the stairs into the main hall.

She glanced over the room to see her Uncle looking at something by the window with her aunt. She crossed over the room and they both looked up as she approached.

Her aunt took the letter from her uncle and smiled at Marian before she excused herself.

Marian's uncle looked reluctant to be left alone with her, almost like he did not wish to speak to her.

His entire body language was awkward, like he did not know how to address her, and Marian wondered what could be that matter with him.

She pushed it to the side and focused on being a respectable lady.

"Uncle Geoffrey have you seen Robin?" Marian had her hands folded in her lap like she had been taught to.

Geoffrey floundered and shook his head, "No I haven't. He's probably just gone to cool down, for a walk or something, you know after your argument last night."

Marian looked down so she could not see Geoffrey's guilty face, "You heard that?"

He sighed, "The whole town heard it Marian. But no one blames you; after all it is in his nature to be a bit arrogant."

Although Marian could have easily agreed with him, she found herself feeling the anger bubble inside of her instead. "Arrogant?" She gasped, "Forgive me uncle but you were not exactly polite to him."

"Marian can you not see what he has done to you?" Geoffrey demanded, "You are both common now. He has changed you."

Marian's voice was hurt and quiet, "He loves me for me. We do not need our titles to be happy. We are helping the poor of England and making it better." She swallowed, "I would have thought you would be happy for me."

Geoffrey put his hands on her arms, "I am, and your father would be as well. I am just trying to do what is best for you, maybe if you were wise, you would do the same." He said and gave her arms a gentle squeeze before pulling on his gloves and cloak that a nearby servant was holding.

Marian tried to hide her curiosity, "You are leaving?"

Her uncle nodded, "There is a festive celebration at the castle. I and your aunt will be there until tomorrow."

Marian nodded and felt his eyes intensify on her as he spoke again.

"You and your friends are welcome to join us later in the evening." He said.

She managed to speak clearly around the uncomfortable lump in her throat, "I do not know."

"You must come." His face was earnest, "Even if your friends do not come you must?"

His face was so serious that it caught Marian off guard momentarily.

"Forgive me Uncle but..." She trailed off when she saw a glint in his eye that she had not wanted to see.

There was fear there, dear that he was about o be caught out or refused she did not know.

Nevertheless she found herself sighing.

"Very well. I will come."

He smiled slightly as her aunt joined them.

"Have a nice evening. I will see you later." Marian smiled as her Aunt and Uncle joined arms before walking to climb into their carriage outside of the manor.

She stood on the doorstep watching them as they pulled away into the distance, the carriage and accompanying riders silhouetted against the pink sky.

The sunset was always nicest on a Sunday she felt. Perhaps it was because it was a holy day.

There was a commotion from inside the manor and she spun to see several people burst in through the servants quarters, and some appear from the top of the stairs.

Marian saw none of the others arrive, including John and Djac, all she could see was the pulsing red liquid staining Robins white tunic.

"Robin..." She rushed over to him, "You are hurt."

He ignored her almost but allowed her to touch his arm. His eyes never left Geoffrey's frightened ones.

"Where is your uncle?" He demanded, storming through the manor, looking around for Geoffrey.

"Robin..." Marian was shocked and confused.

"Well?" Robin spun, trying not to shout.

"He left for Doncaster Castle not a moment before you arrived. He and my aunt are going for the festive celebrations."

She watched as Will, Alan and Much all groaned quietly, where as Robin grew angry, smacking his hand hard against one of the wooden beams in the room.

"Robin what is going on?" She asked.

He straightened, standing and looking at her sadly.

She raised her eyebrows when he bit his lip, inclining her head when he offered no explanation.

"Well?"

Doncaster – Yorkshire –Thorne Manor - Half an Hour Later.

"Master what are we going to do?" Much asked for perhaps the third time that evening.

They were stood in a loose circle around Robin and Marian's chamber.

Robin stood in front of the window, his arms folded over his chest. Djac had bandaged and stitched his shoulder up, telling Marian that she needn't worry as it was neither deep nor serious.

Marian had made her laugh by stating seriously that she was more mad than worried.

She was however, incrediably worried for what events would happen over the course of that evening.

She stood on Robins left, Much on his right. Will and Djac stood together, her next to Marian, the others filling in the gap.

Robin sighed, "We need to go to the celebrations, at the castle, and speak to Geoffrey."

Much raised his eyebrows so far they very nearly receded into his hair, "The castle, surely Master you cannot be serious."

Robin did not miss a stride, "Elian said that Geoffrey has promised the Sheriff our dead bodies before tomorrow's end... and that is what we will give him."

"We will?" Will was doubtful.

Robin nodded, "It is the only way to save Marians uncle."

Marian fell impossibly harder in love with Robin. She knew he was in two minds about saving her uncle, if she admitted it so was she.

But when it came down to it, he was her family, the only it to her father she had left.

She wanted to grasp at that link with both hands. in her mind that was what she was doing.

Marian smiled slightly up at Robin who winked quickly at her, although his eyes were soft.

"So how are we going to do it?" Will pressed.

"Killing ourselves, we do not do." John was serious.

Robin rolled his eyes, "Obviously John." He turned to Djac, "I need you to make me some of the potion that makes our hearts stop beating."

She grinned back at him, "The one I gave you when Carter was at the camp."

Robins eyes twinkled at the prospect and thrill of adventure.

"Precisely."