The core members of Robin Hood gang with some of the lesser known; Will Stutley, David Doncaster ect

Buzz, buzz. The red headed girl in the bed threw an ungainly arm at the offending alarm clock but missed.

"Marian Fitzwalter hurry up!" Her mother shouted up the stairs.

"I donwanna…" mumbled Marian as she finally rolled out of bed. Weekday mornings were never her highpoints.

She was still thinking muzzy thoughts as she strolled into school munching a bit of toast. Because her father was executive in the Monarch corporation, which practically owned most of the shire, and because the Fitzwalter's lived in the wealthy district Marian attended Nottingham High. Most of the other children who frequented the school were from other likewise well off families, although over the recent years due to government pressure a handful of scholarships had been awarded to less financially advantageous persons. These persons were generally made to feel the difference between upper class and lower class in an almost medieval fashion.

"Marian," greeted Elizabeth with a cheerful grin.

"Mornin'," yawned Marian.

"Guess what Robert did this morning?" Elizabeth said with an evil grin.

Marian rolled her eyes; Elizabeth was obsessed with the High school's residential bad boy from the wrong-side-of-the-tracks.

"He painted Guy's locker hot pink and added a framed photo of the Head," Elizabeth giggled.

"Well that showed intelligence," Marian commented dryly.

"He'll be suspended again for this," Elizabeth gossiped heedlessly as the two girls made their way to homeroom.

Geography later that day proved Elizabeth wrong.

"Right class," Professor Christini announced with enthusiasm. "As global warming is becoming a more pressing concern, your assessment will be on any aspect of that issue that you wish to explore. It will be a group assignment and I have your partners here," she paused at the murmurs of dissent from the class and merely raised her eyebrows. "Your partners here: Scarlet with Gisborne, Huntingdon with Fitzwalter, Howard with Edwards…."

Marian groaned; Robert Huntingdon was not a reliable partner. She would never get anything done with that dunce which was quite evident when he was clearly absent from the class. She turned to her computer as Prof Christini finished the conditions of the assessment and tapped aggressively on the keyboard.

"What'd it do to you?"

Marian turned around fast at the soft deep tenor beside her. Sitting there large as life where he had not been a moment before was Robert Huntingdon.

"How did you…?" Marian murmured then halted as she glanced at the open window behind him. "Did you just climb into class?" She asked incredulous, and had the mystified satisfaction of seeing Robert look sheepish.

"Helen threatened to fail me if I missed another Geography lesson and I can't afford to lose the credit," he said quietly. Marian wondered for a brief moment who Helen was.

"Robert, so kind of you to join us!"

"My most deepest apologies Helen, I would have been here sooner only…"

"Later Huntingdon, see me after class."

"You call the Professor, Helen?" Marian asked quietly.

"She calls me Robert."

Marian shook her head at Robert's reasoning.

"So," Robert said robbing his hands together in anticipation. "A geography assignment sounds like fun."

As class filtered out after the lesson Marian was the last, having to pack the contents of her entire pencil case that Robert had managed to fidget out during the half lesson he had been present. As such she was privy to a rather interesting student teacher discussion.

"So Robin, pleased though I am that you took me seriously enough to climb through a window to get to my class do you have any reason in particular for being late?"

"I'm sorry Helen, the Headmaster and I had a few…things…to discuss prior to this lesson."

"Ahh yes, a locker perhaps?"

"I was only paying him back. The amount of times I've heard that the paint was peeling…"

"Understood Robin," Helen Christini's glasses slipped to the end of her nose as she nodded giving her a grandmotherly look. "Anything else?"

Robin paused briefly looking at his feet. "Stutley's starting this semester."

"William? In second year?"

"Yeah, keep an eye out for him?"

"Always Robin." Marian heard the teacher promise as she let the door close behind her.

Lunch was its usual excitement. Elizabeth grabbed Marian's arm as soon as she stepped out of the classroom. "Come on! There's a fight."

"Oh goody," Marian grumbled as she was pulled through a ring of children to where Guy was laying into a small second grader.

"Hey come on," she said loudly. "He's a kid."

"He cheeked me," Guy snarled breathlessly.

"Really?" the new voice was lathered with disdain and sarcasm. Marian and Guy looked up to see Robin having moved to the front. He stood straight with his arms crossed and Marian realised how small he was. He was taller than her but at least a head shorter than Guy. He was broader in the shoulders though, and it was his jade green eyes that seemed to hold more power. They were experienced and glared at Guy under hooded lids.

"And you found it necessary to defend your honour? Against a twelve year old? How gallant of you."

Already the circle was dispersing. The other children seemed cowed by Robert's very presence. As Guy stood in stunned uncertainty Robert knelt down and helped the kid to his feet.

"I heard he killed a man," someone whispered behind Guy.

"Is that right?" Gisborne said sarcastically. "Murders go to gaol, Huntingdon." He jeered.

"No they don't," Robert said quietly as he slowly rose to his feet and met Guy's gaze calmly. "Caught murders go to gaol."

Guy's face paled dramatically which would have been amusing under different circumstances to Marian, however, as Robert was turning away, pushing the little boy in front of him, he called over his shoulder. "Your place tonight, Marian, at five?"