Hey, thanks for the reviews. I know the story of Aidan's past is kinda confusing, I promise it will all be explained in time. I'm kind of following the BBC story line…ish. And also, Allan did betray the gang but he is back with them now. It will all be explained.

Figuring that the damage was done, Aidan sighed and began to walk towards home, James hurrying to keep up with him. The walk back was a familiar one. The whole forest was familiar, in fact. Aidan knew every tree he passed, every bush. He knew which berries were edible and which weren't, from personal experience. He had grown up between these trees, and knew the forest like he knew himself.

Aidan had spent the first years of his life kept quiet, and had eventually been taken to live in the forest with Marian's best friend, Lizbeth. Marian was the daughter of the sheriff at the time, and it was unheard of for someone in Marian's position to have an illegitimate child out of wedlock. Robin, who knew nothing of the child, had gone to war and Aidan had gone to the forest, where he saw his mother quite frequently. Lizbeth was a good woman, raising him with his mother's intentions in mind. Lizbeth had a son a year younger than him, James. Aidan and James became like brothers in their time living together. However, eventually Robin had returned, and his life was turned upside down. It was a long story, one that he only remembered parts of, as he had been a child when it occurred.

In the last few years, Aidan had learned the ways of outlaws from his father, and the others in their gang. However, he knew from countless lectures that he was not allowed to begin going on his own ventures until he was "ready for the responsibility", which in his parent's eyes was at sixteen. When Marian brought Aidan to live with Robin, she had been very clear on how she wanted him to grow up. Marian understood that the son of Robin Hood could not be expected to be raised…well, "properly". She knew he would learn to steal soon enough, cause trouble and put himself in danger. As much as she wished that day would never come, she knew it would. So instead of trying to prevent it, she stalled it. She and Robin decided that Aidan would not begin to his career until he turned sixteen. Aidan had just turned fifteen, and waiting an entire year just to go through the procedures of shooting an arrow at a real target instead of at trees seemed an awful waste of time. Aidan knew how to shoot; he grew up being fascinated with archery and seemed to have a natural talent for it. He rarely missed. Aidan was fast and strong, and he had a quick mind, which was good in moments of trouble. When he went to live with the gang, he picked up the skills of mapping out plans, of foreseeing complications. He could lie through his teeth and make people believe him. Well, some people. Not his father. In any case, Aidan was getting restless.

Aidan and James had walked in silence thus far, and finally Aidan turned to his friend. "Do you want me to come home with you? I want to explain what happened to your mother…" Aidan said anxiously. He hated getting his friend in trouble, and making his mother worry. James and his younger sister Clara were all she had. The sheriff's men had killed her husband years ago for disturbing the peace, as the sheriff said. He was a firm believer in justice, and so he repeatedly spoke out about the injustices their town suffered. He had taken it too far, and he was killed for it. Lizbeth had then taken her children and set up a home hidden in the forest. It was only a few miles from where Robin Hood's camp would eventually stand. Aidan knew that the only reason he was not discovered was because of Lizbeth's protectiveness and watchful eye. He hated to make her worry. She would no doubt have heard from the gossiping townspeople that two young men had challenged the sheriff's guards yet again. But James shook his head and smiled.

"She'll assume it was just another member of the gang. Don't worry about it. Its you that's going to be in trouble." Aidan sighed, in complete agreement.

Now alone, he dragged his feet, not anxious to get home. However, it was getting dark, and if he got home after Robin he would be in even more trouble, so he took the shortest path he could back to camp. When he arrived, there was a fire blazing, but Much alone was tending the fire. Aidan looked around as he came in.

"What…is that?" he asked, sniffing the cooking animal on the fire.

"For the last time, its not squir…" Much paused. "Where have you been?" he asked suspiciously. Aidan didn't look up, but sat down and cast around for an answer.

"Practicing archery. I tripped and broke my bow, though," he held up the bow tentatively, and Much examined it. Aidan sighed, hating that he was lying to Much. Much was one of the only ones in the gang who would try to help him out of situations instead of lecturing him. Much seemed to sense that wasn't the truth.

"No….no. You've got that face on." He said, furrowing his brow and shaking his finger at Aidan's face. Aidan raised an eyebrow.

"That face?"

"You know what I mean. That guilt face. Like you're hiding something. You might be able to lie to Alan and Will, but you can't lie to me. What's going on?"

Aidan knew he had to tell him, so he explained what he had done. Much listened without passing judgment, as he always did. When he was finished, Much nodded and handed him some "chicken". Aidan smiled gratefully, and was just about to eat when he heard noises at the edge of camp, and then, "AIDAN EDWARD HOOD."