A/N: Hey, chapter two, rescue is a little lame.. but there you go! Enjoy! -


Chapter two – The Rescue

"We go, to Nottingham."

Everyone rushed into action, grabbing weapons and reigns. There were only enough horses for the outlaws and Marian, so Allan pulled Daine up onto his. She held on tight as they sped towards Nottingham.

"What's the plan?" Marian called over to Robin.

"Working on it!" This worried Marian, if they weren't careful they would all be arrested and then no one could save her father.


Edward waited patiently for someone to arrive. He'd been told that he was needed in a very important meeting and had to be at the castle as quick as possible. He'd met a guard on arrival and been told to wait in the Great Hall for the Sheriff and Gisbourne. Edward was wary about the whole situation, and had left a letter for Marian on the table.

Outside, Edward could hear the distinct sound of Gisbourne's spurs against the stone floor. They stopped outside the door. Edward listened intently for the sound of the Sheriff's flip flops slapping the floor. They never came. The door opened slowly, and in entered Gisbourne.


They finally arrived at Nottingham's gates after what seemed like a year. Marian had dismounted and ran through the gates. Robin told her to go in and stall the Sheriff and Gisbourne.

"Djaq, take Daine and wait for us at the east gate. Allan, Will you clear the way to the east gate. John, Much you're with me, we are going to visit the Sheriff." Robin had a dangerous look in is eye as he ran towards the castle with Much and John.

Djaq and Daine led the horses to the east gate, accompanied by Allan and Will. All hoods were raised, apart from Daine who had pulled her scarf over her face again. She didn't have a cloak, not yet.

They came up to the gate. Two guards. This was Allan and Will's cue. They flicked back their cloaks, freeing their arms so they could fight. They each turned to a guard.

"Morning fellas." Allan grinned at the guard then, he and Will knocked them out. The guards fell back against the stone wall. They opened the gate so Daine and Djaq could wait outside the castle. Will turned to go make sure the others escape route was clear. Allan joined him, winking at Daine before he left. An involuntary smile spread across her face beneath the scarf.


Marian burst into the great hall. It surprised her to only see Gisbourne looking menacingly at her father. "Sir Guy!"

"Marian." Marian's presence didn't shock Gisbourne, what shocked him was that she wasn't with Robin. "I wasn't expecting you."

"I woke up late to find an empty house. I wanted to find my father; it worried me that he wasn't home." Guy swaggered over to Marian; she stood there feeling very uncomfortable. Guy was getting too close. "Guy. Do you really think this is appropriate, my father is in the room."

Guy looked Marian in the eye. He had a dangerous sparkle in his eyes which worried Marian. Unlike Robin's dangerous edge, Guy's meant bad news. It was the same dangerous sparkle that had been in his eyes when he came to arrest her for betrayal. Determined yet showing signs of pain.

"Maybe you would like a seat Marian, while we wait for the Sheriff." Guy gestured to one of the Council of Nobles seats. Marian took the seat warily. Something about Guy was worrying her. He was being too polite for someone who had been punched at the alter. The room was thick with tension. She needed Robin.


Robin, Much and Little John silently ventured through the castle. It was quiet, which was good because they could get to the Great Hall without any trouble. But it was unnerving. Where all the guards outside? Expecting them there? If so, Will and Allan had a heck of a job to do!

Much was about to comment on how quiet the castle was when they heard the unmistakable sound of the Sheriff walking down the corridor. The outlaws hurriedly slipped into the shadows. The Sheriff walked past humming, oblivious to the presence of the outlaws, or just pretending to be anyway.

He stopped outside the Great Hall doors and took a deep breath.

The door creaked open again, and in entered the Sheriff.

"Let's get this over with. I have things to do, people to tax. You told our dear friend Edward what's happening?" The Sheriff noticed Marian for the first time. "Marian! So we have the whole family!" The Sheriff turned his back to Edward and Marian and muttered under his breath, "Well this makes things easier."

"Sheriff, I was just telling these two about the importance of loyalty."

"Were you Gisbourne?" The Sheriff was playing along pretending to be surprised, but Marian could see right through his facade. Where was Robin? "Well, everyone should know the importance of loyalty, without loyalty there wouldn't be friendship or reliable taxes. Therefore, the loyal are rewarded, but the un-loyal? Do you know what happens to the un-loyal?" The Sheriff showed them a menacing smile, revealing a missing tooth that he lost in the forest a few days back. "Because I do. Gisbourne."

Sir Guy drew his sword and strode towards Edward. Marian couldn't control herself and shouted, "Sir Guy! No!" He stopped walking, and hung his head down. He just knew the Sheriff was tutting behind him thinking Lepers Gisbourne, Lepers. Marian quickly spoke to justify her words. "I mean, you have no evidence that we have been un-loyal. We cannot pay for a crime we do not know we have committed."

"Ah but, we are fully aware of the alliance you had when you thought the King was returning. You got Hood's help; therefore you were planning to give evidence against me! Ha! Didn't think of that one did you! No need to pretend to be innocent now." The Sheriff was thoroughly enjoying this and he had no intention of hiding that fact. "Continue Gisbourne."

Gisbourne was going to make this as painful as he could for Marian, so he dragged out the punishment. He kept her in suspense. He was about to push the blade through Edward, when the door flew open, and three outlaws piled into the room.

"We missing anything?" Robin asked with his usual light manner, smiling at the Sheriff who went purple in the face.

"GET HIM GISBOURNE!" Robin, Much and John jumped down from the higher level in the hall. Gisbourne ran to Robin, only to meet Little John's staff first. He hit the floor, unconscious before he got there. The Sheriff looked from Gisbourne to Robin. Robin drew back his bow, Much had his sword drawn and Little John looked down at him. "All right Hood, you win! They are innocent, just don't shoot!" The Sheriff cowered behind his hands. Robin chuckled and took Marian's hand. John led the bewildered Edward out and Much came up behind, defending them as they left.

Once out of the hall, they broke into a run. Their exit to the east gate was clear; Allan and Will had done their job. They met the two of them, along with the girls outside the castle walls. Allan and Will helped Edward onto a horse, then they were pulled onto the backs of Daine and Djaq's horses. The group didn't stop until they got back to Knighton.

Daine and Djaq escorted Edward into his home. Marian hung behind to ask Robin something.

"Do you think the Sheriff will try that again?"

Robin shook his head. "No, I know the Sheriff is petty, but he'll try to think of something new."

"And why doesn't that make me feel any better?" Marian asked sarcastically. Robin laughed and planted a kiss on her forehead. He signalled for the outlaws to take their leave. Daine hopped back onto Allan's horse and they all rode into the forest.


The Sheriff was angry and his shouting wasn't helping Gisbourne's killer headache. It was always like this. Every time they lost to Hood the Sheriff would throw a hissy fit and blame it on him. Gisbourne found it was best to just be quiet, because everything he said was wrong and stupid to the Sheriff.

"You are pathetic Gisbourne! You let them get away again!" The Sheriff continued to grumble and pace about the hall. Gisbourne wondered that if he left the room would the Sheriff notice.


Much wondered round the camp happily. It was the first night in a long time that he wasn't cooking. He'd left Daine to it because she was competent enough. He finally stopped at his makeshift bed and said, "I think I'm going to take a pre-meal nap!" And with that he sat down and climbed into his bed.

Allan laughed and said back, "Aren't they just the best!" For once Much didn't disagree with Allan. Everyone settled down to do something. Robin and John were hunting, Will was carving something and Djaq was cutting herbs for Daine while talking animatedly to the other female. Allan's eyes fell on the new outlaw. Something about her kept Allan looking. She had brown hair pulled back into a messy bun, although most of it had fallen out due to the events of the day. She had brown eyes that hid as much of her soul as her attitude did. She was quite a petite girl, but still taller than Djaq who was the shortest outlaw. At the moment she wore a big grin on her face and was laughing heartily with Djaq.

Daine felt someone's eyes on her; she turned to see Allan looking at her. She smiled at him then returned to her cooking and chatting. Djaq was sat there grinning at Daine.

"What?!" Daine looked questioningly at Djaq then the two burst into fits of laughter again. They were becoming good friends, and were both enjoying the girly talks and weird looks off the guys when they had no idea what they were talking about. When they had finally regained their breath, Daine again asked, "What?"

"Oh nothing." Djaq pulled a knowing smile and Daine sighed, shaking her head.

"I do not get you at all Djaq."

"You're not supposed to; you've known me two days."

"Then why do I get the impression you are assuming things about me?" Daine raised her eyebrows at Djaq.

Djaq merely laughed again and said, "I am assuming things about you that is why." Djaq placed the chopped herbs into the pan of boiling water over the fire.

Daine sighed again, and decided not to find out what Djaq was assuming; she guessed she wouldn't want to know. "Well, just don't assume things about me, because you'll probably be wrong and I don't like it!" A stubborn look crossed Daine's face, and the sharp edge to her voice returned. Djaq just laughed, making Daine's face break into laughter again.

At this point, Will and Allan were rescued from the girls chatter by Robin and John returning with rabbits. Little John dropped them on the 'chopping board' in front of Daine. Daine put the carrots she was chopping into the same pan as Djaq put the herbs, then she set about preparing the rabbits for the stew she was making.


After the filling stew, many of the outlaws went to sleep. It was only really Will and Djaq that remained awake. Occasionally they would look up from whatever it was they were doing and smile each at each other. Every time they did, Will's stomach flipped intensely. He liked the feeling and hope it would never fade.


The next morning started like the last, slow and lazy. The outlaws ate left over bread from the stew last night. No one was up to much talking, too tired from the rescue. Much still snored slightly. It was only really at mid-day when the outlaws really woke up.

Marian came to visit them in the forest. At first Robin whisked her away for a "private chat". No one bought that, but they humoured him. As they left hand in hand, Allan chuckled and showed the group his cheeky grin. Little John chose to ignore him, Much scowled at his for disrespecting his master. Will rolled his eyes and the girls suppressed a giggle.

When they returned, Marian thanked them for their help. She looked round the group, finally seeing the new outlaw without a scarf on her face. "Daine?"


shocked faces.. no? Ok, Feedback is love!