Chapter 4: The Nightwatchman

Disclaimer

(Me and the gang in some strange corridor in the castle, I lost track a long time ago)

Me: So, what's the plan?

Robin: (sigh) we go down to the dungeons and rescue Marian whilst Will, Djaq and John cause a distraction.

Me: oh okay.

Much: you've got that

Me: yeah, just run that last bit by me again...

(robin and much are ready to launch themselves on me when i am saved when hana (lilmisschatterbox) comes out of a door dressed as a maid)

Me: hey hana! Boys don't come any closer, I have a hana and I'm not afraid to use it!

Hana: wot ya doing?

Robin: we were just about to squish her.

Me: i though you were peace loving!

Hana: you're welcome to her.

Me: I thought you were my friend! Anyway what are you doing here?

Hana: (blushing) I thought I might catch a look at Allan.

Me: she has a crush on him!

Hana: I do not! I just wanted to speak to him, apparently he knows Orlando!

Me: What! Where did you find that out!?

Hana: (shrugging) internet.

Me: Hana you idiot!

Robin: What is going on! Who's this Orlando person Allan knows?

Me: Orlando Bloom, hana lurrrrrrrrrves him!

Hana: it's just a crush!

Me: As if! She wants to kiss him! She wants to snog him! She wants to-

(Hana claps a hand over my mouth)

Robin: can we just go find Marian!?

Me: just one thing Robin, can I have your show!?

Robin: I have no idea what you're talking about but NO!

So no progress but I will get it soon. Ma ha ha ha ha!

I pulled my mask over my face and instantly felt the thrill I always felt when I put on the mask. Once I was in it I was a different person. I could do whatever I liked. I wasn't Lady Marian any more. I was the Nightwatchman.

I slipped out into the darkness of the street; it wasn't hard to get out of the castle. The South wall was having some work done at the moment so I climbed down there after collecting my Uncle's, generous donation.

The night sky was dark and covered with clouds as I slipped to the house on the corner. It held a mother and three children, no father. He was killed in the mines.

I left the money and a loaf of bread.

I carried on like this until I was at the end of the street and was suddenly tackled to the ground.

Of course I foolishly assumed it was a guard and made a fight.

"What are you doing?"Hissed a voice.

Oh no, I pulling myself away started to run. I ran towards the hills, my pursuers were following and as I started to run up a hill. One grabbed my cloak and pulled me down. We wrestled on the ground, but soon he was on top of me. I still couldn't see him for the dark when suddenly a man came up with a torch. A man I knew... Much!!

And on top of me was Robin!

Oh for Gods sake! I pulled down my mask and exposed my face.

"Marian." He gasped.

"Robin." I raised my eyebrows. "If you could kindly get off me."

"Oh yeah, sorry!" He jumped off me and held out his hand. I grabbed it and jumped up.

"So..."

"What?"

"I'm going to need an explanation."

Oh. "Yeah erm, this is going to take a while..."

"We've got all night."

"Okay well you see..." and I explained to him about needing some way to channel my energy and wanting to help the poor from the extreme poverty and absurd taxes. But it took much longer than that...

Xxx

"Aren't you going to introduce me to your gang?" I asked. We were in the camp, Robin had insisted that I came back so that he could check I wasn't too badly injured and I had agreed to shut him up.

"Okay well this is..."

"Hey, I'm Allan-A-Dale!" A man with ginger/brown hair and twinkling eyes walked up.

"Allan!" Robin scowled.

I looked at the man thoughtfully. "I know you, don't I? I've seen you going into the Trip." This was true, I had seen the man going into the local inn, The Trip to Jerusalem.

"I thought we said no drinking!"Robin glowered.

"It was just a few pints!" He pleaded.

"And then you came out singing 'Canterbury Canterbury!' and saying that you were the best trickster in the world." I looked at the man, he was now bright red. "Yes that was you!"

"Any way, this is Will." Robin gestured to the quiet, tall, dark haired man. He had an axe on his belt, so I assumed he was good with wood. "He made the camp!" I was right.

"Wow!" I praised. "It's amazing!"

"Thank you your majesty." Will bowed slightly and I blushed.

"Please, Marian, call me Marian."

"This is Little John." Robin gestured to a mountain of a man.

"Pun intended?" I murmured to him.

He shook his head.

Little John came up to me."Nice to meet you at last." His voice was booming and seemingly just as large as the man himself.

"Of course, you know Much." I nodded and smiled at the young man. He had always been the voice of sense when we were younger and the voice of hunger. He was sweet and kind and worrisome and we wouldn't have him any other way.

It was starting to get light and I knew I should be going.

"I'd better get back." I sighed.

"Of course," Robin replied. "But remember fair Maiden, I'll always be here for you." And he pecked me on the lips and melted back into the undergrowth.

Xxx

I went down to the stables the next morning still savouring last night's quick kiss.

"Morning daydream." Smirked Djaq, as I wandered aimlessly into the stable yard.

"Oh, morning." I smiled.

"You know, you look like a cat who got the cream, are you going to tell me what happened or am I going to have to force it out of you?" She asked.

"Nothing, just a little bit of me time." I replied.

"You're going to get killed doing that!" She scowled. "Anyway, what's up with you and this Robin person?"

"Nothing!" I felt myself blushing.

"I've known you too long for you to be able to tell me it's nothing and expect me to believe you!"

"I just, well, we were engaged when we were younger. Then he went to war and broke my heart. I really loved him Djaq!"

"Loved?"

"I have a friendship with him."

"Just a friendship?"

"Yes." I said, hopefully more firmly than I felt.

"Well come on, now you're here you can help me with this stable!"

I laughed and ran to get an apron.