"You're mad, you know." The gang were huddled outside the camp, while Janet changed her garments. Much's teeth were chattering as he eyed Robin reproachfully. "We can't just….keep her here." Allan and John nodded their agreement. Robin sighed.

"Look, we're not going to keep her here. Just send her off with some food and money and some clothes, she must have someplace to go."

"I don't." Janet had emerged, clad in a pair of Much's breeches, Allan's shirt, and Robin's old cloak and boots. She had begun to unbraid the silver ribbons elaborately wound in her hair, so the thick brown length tumbled nearly to her waist. Most of her finery had been removed, but the gold ring still remained around her thumb, and the dagger was fastened at the waist.

"You have no friends? No family that can take you in?" John enquired with a raised eyebrow.

She shook her head. "My younger brother's in France, and Sir Hugo's goons have taken over my home. I'll go to Bristol and try to catch a ship to France, I just need a horse. I thank you for your help, and the clothes, but…"

Robin sighed. She was even younger than he had thought. Marian would have thought of something, she would have known what to do with this impetuous creature…but no. He would not think of that. "Be reasonable. If you tried to ride to Bristol, you'd be caught before nightfall…

"I'd cut my hair, pass myself off as a squire, no one would realize who I was."

"…provided you weren't robbed and killed first by some highway robber or another. There's an Abbey at Cercles, one of us would be glad to escort you there…"

A look of sheer disgust passed over her face. "Why? Because I'm a girl? That's all I'm good for? Some convent?"

"They're kind people, they would protect…"

"I don't need protection. Not from you, or from anyone. Besides, I hate nuns." She tugged furtively on a knot in one of her ribbons. "I can surivive on my own perfectly well…"

Allan snorted. "Oh come on, what are you, seventeen?" He narrowed his eyes. "And that's my best shirt you're wearing!"

She gave the shirt a disparaging look. "I might have known. And I'm nearly twenty, for your information." She turned back to Robin, her eyes suddenly pleading. "Look, I know you mean well, and I'm grateful for your help. Truly I am. But I would prefer to make my own way. I can take care of myself."

Robin sighed. There was no use arguing with her. "Very well. You can find a horse in Locksley. We'll see you off, and one of us will take you to Bristol."

A puff of relief escaped from her lips. "Thank you." For the first time, a wide, true smile spread over her face. "You know, I'm beginning to believe you really are Robin Hood."

"Yes, about that. Are there really others out there?"

"Oh yes. Like I said, you're the third I've met."

"And what makes you think that I'm the real thing?"

She grinned. "You don't brag about it. You don't realize you're a legend."

***********************************************************

"Hugo, my good man." Vasey extended his arms out towards his friend. "Hood give you any trouble?"

"Well, as a matter of fact, I believe he did manage to steal the bride."

"Ah? Well, that's rather inconvenient." The Sherrif leaned forward in a whisper. "Still, might save you the job of killing her, eh?"

"Don't be ridiculous, Hood does not kill, you said so yourself. Besides, I don't need her dead just yet, just until after I get a son. Then we can be rid of the little harpy. But Vasey, remind me of our agreement."

The Sherriff rolled his eyes, exasperated. "We've been over this. You join the cause, have your wedding, have the baby, kill the girl, recruit more nobles for the cause, la di da di da."

"Yes, but I know you, Vasey. What is in this for you?"

Sir Hugo was met with a sneering chuckle. "Why, I am doing this for England and Prince John of course. Now, get going. According to one of my guards, the brat's apparently headed towards Knighton, we should have the wedding by sundown. But tell me…you've made arrangements for the brother?"

"Yes, he's due to return to England in a fortnight. And some very good friends of mine will be there to greet him when he lands." The two shared a conspiratorial laugh, and Sir Hugo went on his way. Vasey sat himself down at his desk and began polishing his knife. In the shadows of the room, there was a slight shuffle. Unruffled, he continued polishing. "You can come out now Gisborne, you've been stinking up the room long enough."

A huge, burly figure emerged from the corner. His hair was greasy and unkempt, and he was in bad need of a shave. His dark leather clothes were unwashed and worn, and he moved rather sluggishly. Ignoring the jibe, he spoke. "With respect my lord, he's right. What do you have to gain from this?"

Still continuing his polishing, the Sherriff rolled his eyes. "Sir Hugo, you see, is a loyal supporter of Prince John. However, he's also a younger son, which basically makes him worthless. He's clever, though. Managed to win this estate, Cardbury, from Sir Stephen Le Say in a gambling match. Cardbury also happens to come with Sir Stephen's daughter Jeanette. The old coot managed to drink himself to death, but he gave his consent to the marriage before he died. Cardbury's of a decent size, but also rather run down, so it's being rebuilt. Which is why I've so kindly agreed to host the wedding for the happy couple. Hugo's elder brother and his son are also coming, but there's a nasty little surprise waiting for them on the road. So, Hugo gets the girl, gets his brother's lands, and once Sir Stephen's son is disposed of, gets his lands too. Happily ever after."

"You haven't answered my question. You're doing all this just to help a friend?"

The Sherrif bared his yellow teeth in a grin. "A clue. No. You see…" he twirled his knife around with his fingers, "the bride and groom haven't received my wedding present. Yet."

Gisborne raised an eyebrow. "You plan to kill them? Why?"

"Oh, a little extra land never hurt anyone, now did it? Now, find the girl, she can't have gone too far." He prepared to leave the room with a dramatic sweep, but paused at the door. "And don't play all high-and-mighty with me, Gisborne. Killing girls should come rather easily to you, I think."

**************************************************************************

"Remind me again, what exactly are we planning to do?"

"I dunno, do I? We just have to get her a horse." Allan gestured at Janet, who was walking a few paces ahead of them. Her hair, now in a long braid down her back, swung as she ran across the snow. She turned back to look at her companions. "I thought outlaws were supposed to be faster," she shouted.

"Well…" Much faltered, trying futiley to keep up with her without slipping, "beg pardon, my lady, but do you have any idea how to get a horse?"

"I'll improvise." She ran towards the village clearing up ahead. "So this is Locksley?" Ducking behind a snow-covered fence, she scanned the scene of villagers bundled up against the cold. "Look, he has one." She pointed at a young guard standing in front of a plump brown horse. She moved forward, but Allan caught her arm.

"I'm not being funny, but you're mad," he muttered, shaking his head. "What if he recognizes you?"

"It's all right, I've never seen him before. Besides, the guards are all headed towards Knighton by now, and they only ever saw me in finery. I doubt they'd recognize me like this." Shaking off his arm, she strode boldly towards the guard. Much and Allan exchanged worried glances as she patted the horse between his ears and flashed a smile at the guard.

"Oh he's so pretty! May I take him for a ride, please?" she simpered in a high-pitched, fluttery voice.

The guard fumbled, clearly at a loss for words. "I'm sorry miss, but I really don't think that's a good…"

"Only for a few minutes! I do love to ride, you know! And such a…fine horse it is." She batted her eyes, running them flirtatiously over the guard's body. Blushing, his grip slackened on the rein, but he still kept a hold.

"Miss, look, I…" but his words were silenced when Janet abruptly flung her arms around his neck and kissed him full on the mouth. Still watching from behind the fence, Much and Allan's mouths fell wide open as she held the guard in a passionate embrace. "I wouldn't have thought of that," Much finally managed to choke out.

Janet suddenly broke away from the kiss with a bright smile on her face. "Oh, thank you sir! I promise I'll only be a few minutes!" Without hesitation, she swung herself up on the horse, gave it a little jab, and galloped off into the snow, leaving the guard red-faced and gaping. Bewildered, Much and Allan spun off and ran after it, struggling to keep its flanks in sight while Janet rode. Finally stopping in a small clearing, Janet turned while the men, panting and slipping in the snow, caught up. She grinned, her eyes shining. "Not bad, eh?"

Allan steadied himself by grasping the nearest tree branch, red-faced and panting. "You are mad. You seriously don't think that…" His words were cut off by the pounding of hooves.

"Oh bloody hell," Janet groaned, the smile wiped off her face. "Come on, let's go!" She urged the horse to move while Allan and Much ran, but it was an old animal, and already exhausted from the gallop. The two just managed to duck behind a snowbank when Gisborne his men galloped up and surrounded Janet.

"Lost on the road to Knighton, my lady?" Gisborne smirked. Moving in towards her, he reached to grasp the reins of her horse. As a response, Janet snarled and spat in his face. His features distorting in rage, Gisborne wiped himself, then reached out and twisted her arm. Her face screwed up in pain, but Janet bit her lip to keep from crying out. Allan made a motion from behind the snowbank, but Much held him back, shaking his head. "There's too many of them."

Gisborne grinned, obviously enjoying Janet's agony. "No more arguments then, my lady?" She was silent, continuing to glare at him. "Well then. Wouldn't want to miss your wedding now would you?" He nodded to a guard, and Janet was quickly swept off her horse and held firmly by the waist. They rode off towards Nottingham, the hooves kicking up a trail of white in their wake.
Allan and Much looked at each other, unsure of what to do.