I didn't pay strict attention as the plan to rescue the men from Nottingham unfolded. Perhaps that was because if I had let my brother go, this plan would have saved him, and I was angry because nothing could save him now.

Also, it was clear that I would not be involved in this plan. For now, they only needed a few, so Djaq and I were to be left here. The men set off at sunrise, following the Great North Road to Nottingham.

"Do they leave us behind because we are women and they think we are weak?" I questioned.

"No," she said. "I like to think it is because they care about us. That, and the fact that men see themselves as immortal!" she laughed.

The sun's rays came and went as it passed through the trees, getting lower and lower. The wait was excruciating. I focused in once again, and saw that Djaq, along with me, was pacing.

"Who are you waiting for?" I asked. She laughed.

"Who are you waiting for?" It was my turn to laugh.

"I see you look at Will," I said.

"I see you look at Allan. I see you kiss Allan. Do actions not speak louder than words?" she chuckled. Our laugh harmonised, and I was caught in the thought that, maybe, I had found a female friend close to my age- that was rare!

Finally, just as I was about to explode, the boys came bursting through the trees, smiling.

"It worked then?" Djaq asked.

"Of course!" laughed Will. "What did you expect?" Everyone laughed now, except Allan, who was unusually quiet. He came towards me and took my hand.

"They've buried your brother," he said.

"They did it without me?"

"They didn't know where you were…"

"I wasn't going to leave him, was I?" I said, shocked. "We have to go and see him!"

"I know, I'll take you," he said. We all knew it was safer to go under the cover of darkness.

I stood in front of his grave. It was a pile of stones and a wooden cross, just as I had expected, but it needed something more. I walked to my house and found the wooden heart he had carved and set it at the base of the cross. It was more personal.

Allan stood a few yards away, leaning on the house. He seemed to sense I wanted my space. I sat and spoke to my brother,

"Thank you. You did this for me. Say hello to Mother and Father for me. I love you," I told him. He knew this already, of course. As I turned round, I sight I was not expecting met my eyes.

Gisbourne had Allan with a sword at his throat! I started towards him.

"Touching," he sneered.

"You did all of this!" I cried.

"Very observant. But you won't mind if I take your friend. He is Hood's man- very valuable!" I didn't know what to do. I could not leave Allan. I looked into his beautiful eyes and hoped I would find the answer.

"RUN!" he shouted.

And I ran. I ran until my legs ached. I had never run so fast. As I looked back and saw Allan being taken away, I knew. I knew that whatever happened, I would not lose him. I would fight every step of the way to get him back. I needed him. It was only now that I realised, I could not be without him. So I ran.

"ROBIN!" I shouted as I came within hearing distance of the camp. He had to hear me. He could not let me down. He would be here. "Robin!" My lungs ached as I used all the air in my body to call for help that I was sure would find me.

Meanwhile in Nottingham, Allan was sat at a table, far from torture.

"Be my spy, and I will reward you," offered Gisbourne. "You can provide for the girl, and you can go right now, no worry." Allan's eyes met Gisbourne's as he said,

"How much money are we talking?"

I hadn't stopped running until we came out of the trees towards Nottingham town. There in the distance was a cloaked figure, running toward us, and I was sure it was Allan. He met the group, but there was no time for greeting, as foot-soldiers ran out of the gates.

So I was running again, but this felt like it required no effort at all. He was safe. We reached the camp and Robin announced he was positive nobody was following us.

"How did you escape?" panted Much.

"Fight!" Allan breathed, clutching his sides.

I ran toward him and grabbed him in a fierce hug. I did not let go when I felt a normal hug should stop. I just clung there.

"I thought you would be killed," I said.

"They could try…" he laughed. I let go of him and looked into his eyes. This time it was me who started the kiss. The others laughed but I did not care. I pulled back and grinned. Everyone converged into one big huddle. Finally, I really felt part of the group, and I knew my brother was smiling down on me.

The next weeks passed so quickly I could barely recall them. All I remembered at night was how great it felt to help the poor, and how Allan looked at me whenever he could. It seemed I never let go of his hand, until the day that everything went wrong.

"Who is it?" Much cried as he came bounding into the camp. Robin was not with him; he must be alone in Nottingham still. I wondered if he was there for Marian, and just hiding the real reason.

"Who is what?" John asked.

"There is a spy in the gang. Someone is passing information to Gisbourne," he revealed.

Everyone cast looks at their fellows, who, until now, they had completely trusted. Allan's hand was still resting on my shoulder and when he spoke, I jumped, remembering that he was still there.

"What are you talking about?" he laughed.

"Robin knows who you are, and he will find you out!"

The whole gang lapsed into silence, occasionally glancing at one another. This position was only broken when Robin returned.

"Who is it?" Djaq immediately asked. Robin looked incredulously at Much who shrugged.

"It's not the kind of secret I can keep!" Everyone looked at Robin.

"I don't know, but whoever it is, confess now, and we can talk about this…" Allan took my hand. "No? Well then I have one message, I will find you!" He walked back off into the trees and stopped a short while away.

Everyone was humbled as they walked around that evening and it startled me to see a disturbance in the trees where Robin and Will were wandering.

"…and never come back!" Robin roared. We all rushed over to him, shell-shocked. "Will was the spy!"

"No, Robin, it wasn't him!" Allan piped up.

"It was! Convosation over! I need to see a maid at the tavern in Nottingham at sundown. She's the only one with evidence. Everyone be back here around then," he finished.

I let go of Allan's hand and came up behind Djaq, putting my hands on her shoulders. Her eyes were filled with tears that would not spill.

"Come back," I pleaded.

"I will," she said.

"Meg…" spoke Allan. I turned to see his sincere face gazing at me. "I'll see you at sundown, and…I love you" It was the first time he had told me.

"I love you too! See you at sundown," I said. He smiled, turned and ran off in the opposite direction.

The next hours passed quickly as I ran through the forest. It felt strange without Allan, but I also felt free. I let my hair fall down my back and grinned. Sundown came so fast.

Meanwhile in Nottingham, Robin and Allan where arguing.

"I need the money, what would I have when this is over?" Allan shouted.

"You would have Meg! You would have had her!" retorted Robin and he walked out.

I got to the camp at the same time as the others and was shocked to see that Will had the nerve to show his face.

"Traitor!" Much screamed at him.

"STOP! It was not him," Robin interceded. "It was a trick, a plan, and I am sorry."

"Where is Allan?" I questioned, though I thought I knew the answer. "He should be back by now, we should wait for him," I went on even though my brain had stopped in its tracks.

"I think you know what has happened."

"I didn't until now," I stammered.

"I believe you," Robin assured me.

I hugged Robin. This was so different from the moments I had shared with Allan. Robin's embrace screamed friendship and protection.

"He said he was doing it for you, to provide for you,"

"I don't care. I think of you as my brother, you know that, right, Robin? You provide for us. You'll do what's best for me. So I stay." That night I did not cry. I did not shed a tear. The man who said he loved me was gone, but this was not the end of my story, nowhere near…