Part 7
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Robin laughed as the pitch caught fire and the Sheriff and his men were trapped inside their own walls. He with the gang and Edward on his heels ran to the forest. Robin as usual was exuberant with elation that he had outwitted the Sheriff and Gisborne again. But it was short lived. As soon as they were a safe distance from the castle they stopped and that was when Robin realised all was not as it should be.
"Where's Marian?" he asked Edward. His tone was harder than he intended it to be and instantly he felt remorse as the old man's face crumpled.
"I do not know," Sir Edward replied.
"But she was with you?" protested Djaq, just before we were lured to the minstrels gallery.
Edward nodded. "She was, when Robin was in trouble, she left. I did not realise she was not there until it was too late. I have no idea where she went."
Robin's joy had vaporised to anguish and concern. Concerns which Much voiced. "What if …. What if Winchester has her? Where was he during the 'party'? I did not see him once."
"Much," said Will with a shake of his head. "Don't jump to conclusions; Marian could still be in the castle. In her room perhaps."
Robin shook his head and answered. "I doubt it. Winchester wanted her…."
"What for?" asked Little John blankly.
"Revenge," Edward whispered, feeling the dagger twist in his gut. He had no idea until today that Harold had even serious wanted or loved Kate.
"Revenge?" Much queried, looking from Edward to Robin and back again. Robin sent him a 'not now' look and he shut up, needing no further telling. There was something in Edward's expression that Much had never seen before.
Robin looked pensive, he finally nodded and said. "Right we will go back to the castle. Make sure that Marian isn't there before we go looking outside Nottingham for her. John, take Edward back to the camp, make him comfortable. The rest of you with me."
"I don't like this. I don't like this at all. We just got out of there, how are we going to get back in and then out without being seen? No I hate this."
"Much!" Robin shouted. "Shut up, if you don't like it go back to camp with John and Edward. I can do this with or without your assistance."
"Well!" Much spluttered hurt. He paused a moment to think. Robin was just upset because Marian had gone off on her own again, that was it, he reasoned, he was only worried, yes. He nodded to himself and then ran to catch the others up.
----
It was very rapidly apparent that Marian was not at the castle, nor was Winchester. They met Allan who was nursing his bruises. Much and Will gave him a distrusting look. But Robin and Djaq were more forgiving in their manner as they asked him what he knew of the situation.
Allan shrugged his shoulders and said. "They are still looking for them."
Footsteps sounding along the corridor, suggested that they were soon not to be alone. Robin and the gang slipped into the shadows as Gisborne and the Sheriff appeared.
"Ah," Vasey drawled. "Just the man we are looking for."
"Prove yourself to us, then you can have a place here at the castle." Gisborne told him.
"As his man, nothing to do with me. You are one of Hood's men and as far as I am concerned will always be. But if you do this task we ask of you, then as Gisborne says, well I may look more fondly upon you."
"What? What task?" Allan asked. Feeling he was slipping further and further into a pot of hot water. Out of his depth in fact, if only he had confessed when Robin gave him the opportunity.
"Find Winchester and kill him." Vasey told him.
"Just like that?" Allan questioned. This was certainly not something he would relish doing. For Robin's protocol was now etched within his soul of 'don't kill unless you have to'.
"Just like that." Guy affirmed. "And if Marian is with him, bring her back to the castle."
"Where we can keep an eye on her," Vasey sneered.
"What….What if she is not?" Allan asked warily.
"No matter," Shrugged Vasey. "If Winchester had disposed of her it is one less leper for me to worry about."
Gisborne snarled at him with gritted teeth and Allan was worried that these two were abut to have a round of verbal fisticuffs in front of him.
"If Marian is with him, bring her back." Gisborne finally informed him.
"If you must," The Sheriff replied, making a face at the order but permitting it nonetheless. Even though he could not stand the sight of Marian, she did provide some light entertainment keeping Gisborne on his toes.
The two men left Allan telling him to make haste. He stood in the corridor and called for Robin. But it appeared that he was alone in the world in this task and perhaps for the second time in his life, he felt, alone, scared and very vulnerable.
