Chapter 4:

Eleanor tried to look interestedly around at the crowded streets of Nottingham as she and Guy rode towards the town gates, but her insides were filled with so many butterflies that she could barely concentrate. Had it been her imagination, or had that guard had exactly the same bright blue eyes which had pierced her in the woods earlier that day? It had only been for a fraction of a second, but she was sure it had been the same man. She supposed that must mean that Robin knew by now. How would he react? What was he like? So many questions filled her head that she had difficulty in listening to Gisbourne, who was reluctantly filling her in on the details of her new estate. Shaking her head slightly, she tried to pay attention.

'Your sister?' every outlaw had said the same thing when Robin had told them. This time it was Much. 'But I thought – she died!'

'No, she didn't' said Robin. The outlaws were gathered in a disused barn just outside Nottingham. Much was seriously confused. He had known his master had a sister, but he never talked about her. Never. Much had the vague idea that there had been a lot of unpleasantness surrounding her birth, and it had resulted in the child dying. Much had learned not to mention it. But now?

Robin sighed, resigned to a long and painful retelling of the story he had wanted to forget. 'That was just what everyone was told, to protect her. At that time, my father had a lot of enemies. He was loved by all his people and many didn't approve of his 'lenient' methods of looking after them. They were all waiting for a chance to ruin him, force him to relinquish his lands to them.' Robin scowled.

'When my mother died giving birth to my sister, my father was heartbroken. I can barely remember it; I was only a few years old. A priest who came to lay my mother to rest, and christen my sister as well, was one of those who wanted to bring my father down.

'He noticed a birthmark on her left shoulder in the shape of a crescent moon, and pretended that this was a sign of evil. He declared her as a devil-child, and said that she had killed my mother, and would do the same to every woman in the village if she was allowed to live. He knew that losing a daughter so soon after his wife could destroy my father, and I think he was right.

'Of course, the whole of Nottingham cried out for the baby to be put to death. They would not even consider the possibility that a man of the church would lie to them.' Robin paused, and the outlaws stared, horrified at him. Nobody moved or made a noise until Will, his eyes slightly damp, spoke up.

'But she didn't die, did she?'

'No.' breathed Robin, 'My father would not let them hurt her – he knew the priest was lying, he just needed time to prove that she was innocent. So he gave her to a family of nomads – travellers – who promised to bring her back in a couple of months, once he had exposed the priest.'

'They never came back.'

'And now this girl turns about to be your long lost sister?' said Roy. 'Well, it looks like she has palled up with the Sheriff and Gisbourne, so who says she'll be on our side? Can we trust her?'

'I don't know,' frowned Robin.

Suddenly Will spoke up 'But shouldn't we warn her? She's taken Gisbourne's lands, hasn't she? And remember what happened last time.' He nodded towards Robin. 'Yeah, he's not going to take this lying down' said Alan, his insides giving a sudden twist, 'and he's probably alone with her now, going to Locksley. I'm not being funny, but we should tell her; she's not safe!'

'We go to Locksley.' At Little John's words, the gang got up and left the barn.

'Sir Guy – before we go to Locksley – do you think you could show me around? I mean, are there any local nobles I should meet? I think it would help me fit in.'

Guy waited a moment before answering, thinking. He knew what he would eventually have to do, to get Locksley back. Why not now? His fingers reached towards his sword hilt. No. Not yet. He would wait for the Sheriff to give the order.

'None apart from the former Sheriff, Edward, and his daughter Marian, who live over in Knighton.' A rush of warmth spread over him as he said her name, and was relieved when Eleanor covered his moment of awkwardness by saying at once with a hopeful smile 'Well, could you introduce me to them?'

Marian stared impassively at the sky, which was clouding over rapidly, her thoughts elsewhere. In fact, they were deep in Sherwood with her Robin. Not that she'd ever admit that he was 'her' Robin, in her head at least. So much had happened in such a short time. Robin had returned suddenly from the wars, and almost as quickly been outlawed for his rather indiscreet pro-Richard antics, and from then on lived as an outlaw, out of her reach.

She sighed, half angrily, half sadly.

Fool, she thought. He thought he could just waltz around defying authority and get away with it? Well, she was not as brash. She knew how to tread the line.

Emerging from her preoccupied thoughts, Marian suddenly noticed the two riders, Gisbourne and a girl, about her age, that she had never seen before. Rising reluctantly, she went downstairs to let them in.

'She's not here!' a thick knot of anxiety was tightening in Robin's stomach, as the gang reported back. They had searched every inch of Locksley, and Eleanor was nowhere to be seen. What was taking her so long? She had left Nottingham alone with Gisbourne, and had apparently disappeared. Trying not to think the worst, Robin struggled to find a reason why she was not back yet. Suddenly Much, who had gone to check the village, came running towards them.

'Master! Master!' he yelled 'John, the butcher's two sons have been taken by Gisbourne's men! They said that the boys had been hunting the king's deer to sell in their father's shop. They're to hang!'

Robin felt Will tense beside him. It was the Scarlett brothers all over again. Taking one last desperate look around at the deserted manor, he turned to his men.

'We have no idea when (and if, a corner of his brain added) Eleanor will be back. We can't just leave them. Alan, you stay here and watch out for my sister. The rest of you, back to Nottingham!'