"Marian."

The whisper on Robin's lips tore at Much's heart. Once again, his Master spoke her name in his sleep, as he had done for five years while they fought in the Holy Land…as he had done for months now since they had watched her die at the hand of Guy of Gisbourne.

At least Robin could be with her in his dreams. Awake, he was a different man than the person Much had known all his life. His sunny disposition, flippant charm, and mischievous but never harmful humor were nearly all gone, drowned by sorrow. His nobility, honor, and courage remained, but Much missed seeing the joy in his friend nearly as much as Robin missed Marian.

Much missed Marian, too, as well as missing Will and Djaq. Having Kate in the gang was not the same. They had taken her in to protect her, but she was proving to be a liability.

Will and Djaq had both been extremely useful and pleasant members of the gang. Will was always busy quietly building things. He had designed and built their camp, so they didn't have to move from place to place, and they could stay out of the poxy cave when it rained. He had designed and built traps, and arrow shooting devices. As for Djaq, she was skilled at healing. Whenever anyone was sick or hurt or wounded, Djaq's soothing and gentle hands would make them well. They were both brave fighters, and calm, level headed friends. Not only that, but they had apparently been in love, and it hadn't caused any strife within the gang.

Now Kate was a completely different story. She had no useful talents. She had no dignity. She screeched and bossed them all around, and tried to pit Allan and Much against each other, vying for her favor. And now, she was turning her attentions towards a completely oblivious and grief-stricken Robin. She was forever getting captured, and scolded them whenever they risked their lives to rescue her, whining that she could look after herself when she clearly couldn't. Yes…things were definitely not the same anymore.

"Marian."

Robin spoke her name again, with so much longing in his voice that Much almost expected to see her run to him. If the dead could hear, Much thought that Marian would be lying beside Robin in his cramped bunk right now, holding him close. She never could resist coming to his rescue.

But what about Gisbourne's sister, Isabella? Much wondered what was going on between her and Robin. Today, after trying to put out a fire which had destroyed the Locksley village church, Robin had brought Isabella to their camp! Little John, Allan, and Kate had all been angry and suspicious, but the ever loyal Much had not questioned his Master. Isabella did resemble Marian in more than a few ways. Although Much had been jealous of the hold Marian had over Robin's heart, he'd give anything to have her back again, and since that was impossible, Much could only hope that Isabella could somehow fill the hole in Robin's life, at least partially. Yawning and relaxed at last, Much rolled over and went to sleep.

…

"Marian."

Robin sat straight up in his bunk, awake once again to the bitter reality that his beautiful, beautiful wife was gone, brutally murdered by his enemy, Guy of Gisbourne.

He lay back down in his bunk and stared into the darkness. You couldn't stop loving someone you'd loved your whole life, someone who seemed to be perfectly made for you.

He shut his eyes, trying to block out the memories, and the shame for what he had done today. He had lain with Isabella, his enemy's sister, in the grassy meadow. How had it happened?

He hadn't meant it to. After she had helped douse the flames that destroyed his village church, he'd stood two feet away from her, sunlight blinding his eyes, wanting to believe for just a moment that he was staring into the face of his dead wife. When Isabella had taken off her necklace, at his request, he held onto the image in his mind of Marian removing the necklace Gisbourne had forced on her a few years back. But when Isabella had lifted her skirt to retrieve her purse, showing him her bare naked thigh, he hadn't thought at all. Their eyes met and tangled, and he searched them deeply for Marian, before kissing her and tumbling to the ground.

It wasn't anything like the love he had shared with Marian. It wasn't intimate or loving or fulfilling…it was just fast and hot and over in no time at all. Robin was ashamed, and he felt he owed her his trust, since she had given herself to him, so he took her to his camp. What could he do now? He did not know. He just wanted the pain to stop.

…

Isabella rolled over in the luxurious bed in Nottingham Castle. Prince John snored quietly beside her. She smiled secretly into the darkness.

Things were going so well since she had escaped her husband. She'd make certain this was not just a one night fling. She was skilled at saying just the right thing to any man, and the right thing to say to the Prince was to call him her "King." As his mistress, she was on the pathway to power. She'd show her brother who was the more powerful!

If only she could bear children! Being mother to one of the Prince's children would be a sure way to seal her position! But having been married for seventeen years, and having taken many lovers, she knew she was barren.

Isabella laughed quietly as she recalled her performance for the Prince, when she had returned to the castle after helping with the fire today. Her dress was torn, and she claimed to have tugged at Robin Hood's sword and pulled it from its sheath. Little did the Prince, or her treacherous brother, know that she was speaking the truth, at least figuratively!

She wouldn't gain any power or prestige from that liaison, but oh! what pleasure! She had wanted Robin Hood the moment she had first set eyes on him. Not to mention the sublime satisfaction it gave her to know that he was her brother's enemy! What a perfect way to get back at Guy for everything he'd done to her!