Allan tensed up, and felt his chest tighten in fear. Someone was definitely coming straight for him. He raised his sword quietly but just by getting it out of its sheath it made the trademark "whoosh" noise. The soft footfalls fell silent - they must've heard my sword. Adrenaline was kicking in by this point so even though Allan's eyes were wide with fear neither his hands nor his voice shook or portrayed any fear as he barked in his most threatening whisper, "Who's there!" There was silence and Allan stood frozen, sword raised.

"Allan?" a voice whispered back, uncertainly. He could here the fear in the feminine voice. He let out a breathe of relief and lowered his sword. "Annie?" He pulled back an overhanging branch that blocked his view and sure enough, standing there was Annie, looking just as relieved as he was that the other wasn't one of Gisbourne's men. She smiled timidly and walked over to join him, a slight guilt playing in her eyes. "Jeez, Annie! I could've attacked you - or I might've been one of Gisbourne's guards! What're you doing out here anyway?!" He put his sword back in its sheath roughly, and his heart was still beating against his ribcage.

"I followed you." she said casually, though she did still look a bit guilty.

"You told Robin you'd stay at Hannah's!" Allan could hear the scolding in his voice, but he couldn't help but feel protective of her.

She shrugged, "I lied." He just folded his arms and looked at here accusingly.

"Look, I have to be here to help my son. Even just to see my son! I can't sit and wait any longer. Besides… I can take care of myself." Allan sighed and dropped his arms along with the accusing glare.

"Alright look." He started, "'ere's the deal. I can't very well bring you back now 'cause we're on a mission…" She smiled. He frowned. "…But you stay right here. If we need to fight, you stay here and hide, got that? Anyone comes near you - you run back to Hannah's or the closest safe place. Nuffin dangerous! 'right?" She nodded looking excited. Allan sighed again and rubbed his forehead with one hand.

"Robin will 'ave my head for letting you stay." Allan said to himself closing his eyes. When he opened them he could see Annie trying to don a sympathetic expression but she was just too happy to be doing something beneficial for her son instead of just sitting around waiting. Allan grinned in a bemused sort of way - At least she's happy, that is one perk of this situation.

She placed her hand on his arm; he felt his ears go red and his heartbeat quicken. He looked into her beautiful brown eyes and she said quietly, with a smile, "Thank you, Allan." Then she cast her eyes down in an embarrassed sort of way, the smile still on her lips and she looked back up at him. He couldn't help but smile too as his face burned pleasantly.

Just then a whistle resounded around the house. Through the bush in front of him Allan saw Robin and Much sprinting across the lawn to the kitchen entrance of the house - John, he assumed, was coming from the other way. Allan didn't think, there was no time for hesitation or fear - he just grabbed Annie's hands and said urgently, "Stay here!" Then let go of her hands and ran to the kitchen entrance where Will and Djaq were fleeing the scene.

Allan was vaguely aware that there was a baby crying somewhere nearby, and he saw that Will was holding his left arm funny - but he didn't process any of that information as he met his first guard and attacked. Allan could never think during fights - he always found it amazing that Robin had the mental capacity to speak while his life was constantly being challenged. "Where's Seth?!" their shouted to either Will or Djaq. "Inside!" Will shouted in a strained voice the moment between knocking out one guard (with his right hand) and having another charge him viciously. There were so many guards. They must've set off the alarm. Gisbourne himself would be here any moment. The crying was still going in the background, and then Allan heard Djaq's trademark war-cry. To his left he was vaguely aware of Will fighting a guard on his own but Allan was too occupied with the two he was defending himself from to pay attention to much else. In one swift movement Allan took a step backward and met his back with Will's so that the three guards formed a triangle around the two outlaws. Will took out his man a moment before Allan took out one of his own and together they took down the last one left before giving each other a nod and jumping right back into the fight. Something seemed wrong with Will's expression, but Allan didn't have time to think.

Allan now faced another two (they seemed to be filing out of the house in twos and threes as they reached the door from wherever their post was in the manor) and now he had Robin to his left taking on three at once. Just then a booming voice roared, "Hood!" and Robin sniggered - few things made him happy in life since his love's passing - but seeing a face like that on Gisbourne could still make him smile. "Get Them!" Guy shouted and to the gang's horror - another ten guards seemed to have shown up with Gisbourne. Robin's face fell. "There's too many - retreat!" Robin cried and spun on his heel ready to run. But he hadn't seen the huge man standing behind him raising his sword.

"Run!" Allan shouted and shoved Robin out of the way, hard. When he'd thrown himself at Robin his sword was already up so when the guard's came crashing down Allan was just able to block it. Robin stumbled and turned around to make sure Allan was alright but flew off like a flash after the rest of the group. Allan, meanwhile, was in deep combat with the huge guard but was maneuvering himself backward away from the rest and after the others. He turned and headed straight for the forest only a little bit behind his fearless leader.

With a pang of panic he saw guards charging into the forest after the outlaws - most heading directly in their path - but two had decided to go around and try to cut them off - unknowingly heading right toward where Annie was hidden in the trees.

Allan's eyes went wide again and for the first time since the fight broke out, genuine fear gripped him. He changed direction to head for her. But just than two more guards caught up with him. He only saw the one on his left - he didn't even know what hit him as the one on his right cracked him over the head. He went down and suddenly everything was spinning slowly around him. After the intensity of the fight it was almost relaxing to not be running - but he didn't know how he'd wound up on the floor. His vision blurred and his last thought before passing out was a very weak, one word thought that passed across his lips. Annie. Then he closed his eyes and let consciousness leave him. The last thing he heard before the blackness overtook him was the still persistent cries of a child - though from very far away, a guard announcing that they'd "caught one!", and then an evil cackling as someone said in a low voice, "Well, well, well, if it isn't Allan A'Dale…"

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I always get carried away when it comes to fight scenes - but I can't help it; they're so much fun to write! I already have the next chap written, so I'll probably wait a few days than post it (a few reviews might help me get it up sooner hint hint

BTW, thank you so much: noz4a2, Candyfloss77, Lena of Cameliard, Bunny1, Ginger, soulprovider, and Carpe Vivum - for all the supporting reviws. Yay you make me (or my story rather) feel loved. So Thank you! :D 3

As always please enjoy, and review. :)