"So what's the plan then?" Asked Alan breaking the silence in the camp. Elizabeth and the others all looked to Robin.
"We need to find out where the boys have been taken" He said pacing around the fire "I'll go see Marian and see whether anything has come up" he continued coming to a stop. "The rest of you should go into Nottingham and ask around, then we'll meet back here" The camp nodded in unison and got to their feet.
"Excuse me!" Said a voice from behind them. They all turned around and looked down at Elizabeth's furious expression.
"I'm coming with you!" She said firmly placing her hands on her hips.
"No, Elizabeth you stay here where it's safe" Robin said soothingly "We won't be long"
"I'm coming with you," She repeated walking over and standing next to Robin.
"Well lead on!" she said gesturing to the woods. Robin looked down at the small girl and realised that he wasn't going to win this argument.
"Fine, but you stay by me" He conceded starting into the woods at a slower pace so that she could keep up. She smiled up at him and followed him through the trees much to the surprise of the rest of the camp yet again.
Soon after, Robin and Elizabeth arrived in Nottingham market. Robin pulled his hood over his head and Elizabeth did the same, clutching tightly to his hand. He scanned the heavy crowd quickly and smiled when he spotted Marian over by a stall looking at fabrics. He weaved through the mob swiftly and took her by the hand and led her to a secluded corner where they wouldn't be heard.
"Hello" She said smiling up at Robin "What brings you..." She stopped mid sentence when she noticed the small girl attached to Robin.
"And who is this?" Marian asked kindly, looking from Robin to the girl.
"My name is Elizabeth" Elizabeth said confidently letting go of Robin's hand and extending it to Marian. Marian was quite taken aback by the openness of such a young girl but smiled and took her hand in her own.
"Very pleased to meet you Elizabeth, so how did you get stuck with him?" She asked pointing at a disgruntled Robin. Elizabeth laughed.
"Marian," Robin started getting her attention quickly. "We need to know if you have heard anything about three boys being brought into the castle, they are Elizabeth's friends and we need to find them" He said looking at Marian. Elizabeth too looked up hopefully.
Marian thought for a moment with her forehead creased. "I heard that there were a few children bought in about an hour ago for stealing apples but I'm not sure what happened to them" She concluded in defeat.
Elizabeth was outraged. "They did not steal any apples!" She said angrily "They got chased cause they saw the metal that didn't break!"
Marian looked quickly up at Robin who nodded gravely.
"Gisborne seems to have created an indestructible armour" He said to a stricken Marian. They both were thinking of the consequences of this metal being placed in the wrong hands.
"What do we do?" She asked quickly
"We, don't do anything" Robin said, "You and Elizabeth will wait here and I will go find the boys"
"What!" Said Elizabeth and Marian in unison
"I'm going with you!" Elizabeth said angrily.
"Not this time" Robin said placing a hand on her shoulder.
Marian looked from the girl to Robin and sighed. "Yes, I will look after her" She said taking the girl's hand. Robin smiled and kissed her on the check.
"Thankyou, I shouldn't be long"
"Be careful" Marian called as he walked away. He turned and gave her a cocky smile before disappearing into the crowd.
