BeanieSgirl, I answer both of your questions in this chapter =) So glad you're enjoying this! -- ginnyweasley777, Thanks so much! I'm glad I'm able to keep them in character! While trying to think of a name, I was watching "Get Carter" and the Sheriff told "Gizzy" to grow up and tried to give him a kiss lol -- gatewatcher, Oh I 3 Much too.. much.. haha anyway, you don't have to wait long to find out what happens. =) Thanks RH fans! Favorite snack, remember?

~*~

Robin stopped short, forgetting his well-bread apology, when he saw Marian laying on a cot in a silky nightgown. "Surely you weren't wearing that underneath your clothes?"

"Keep your hands to yourself." She warned again, noting his expression and repositioning herself to sit instead of lay.

He grinned his overconfident half-smile. "Oh, but where's the fun in that?"

"I mean it, don't make me make you leave."

He sat on the cot across from her. "You didn't bring a trunk. Not even a purse. So, where did you get that?"

"A woman's secrets-"

"Never to be revealed." He droned. He let his head fall, and shook it, then he stood "To make it even, I should get into my night clothes-"

"No! Robin, I know how you sleep, keep your clothes on!"

He sat back down, his shirt half off, grinning at her all the while.

~*~

Gisborne, though being extremely slow, managed to make it to the front of the camp. "Looks like you've been forgotten."

"They're all tired, they'd never forget me on purpose-"

"Oh, how could they, when you've always got your mouth open. Maybe I should do them a favor a cut out your tongue."

"Not if I can help it." said Djac from up the hill, an arrow pointing at Gisborne. "Get Robin, quickly!"

"She just signed your death certificate, filthy Sarasin-"

Much used the distraction to elbow Gisborne in the stomach, causing the larger man to lose his breath and his balance momentarily. He attempted to stay standing, but Much kicked him, again in the stomach, this time making him stumble to the ground.

Robin was there in an instant, his bow ready to dive into the heart of his enemy. But Gisborne wasn't going to have it. "Prince John will prevail!" He reached for his dagger once more, and lunged at Much. But Robin and Djac both let go of their arrows, and Gisborne fell at Much's feet, agony apparent on his face.

Robin turned away. He was not looking forward to telling Marian of Gisborne's sudden demise. He knew she had feelings for Guy, even though her heart belonged to Robin. He didn't know how she would take it, but he did know she would blame him, if anyone. He turned to head back to her tent, but there she was. Fully-dressed, standing a few yards up the hill. She had seen it. And from what Robin could tell, she accepted it.

A few hours later, Robin, Allan, John and Will left for the ship with the Capitan and some of the King's men. Much and Marian stayed behind so they could protect the king at the camp and on his way to the skip. Djac stayed as well, to assist the physician.

Marian took Robin's advice and practiced her aim with her knifes. She needed a distraction. Even though she had not trusted Gisborne, she found him to be a decent man underneath all the evil. He would have died anyway, in England by the rope. Marian believed that he had known what would happen if he reached for the knife. His legs gave him a great deal of pain, he was headed for the noose anyway, and he had probably figured out that she wasn't coming back to him. These thought made her believe he wanted death, and gave her peace.

When Little John came back. It meant that the ship was nearly ready and it was time to take the king to the port. Their journey, with invalid, prisoner, and twelve soldiers on foot, would take an hour and a half. However, they stumbled upon a hunched man in a frail hooded cloak, walking as if left for dead.

"We should stop." said Little John.

"No, we cannot." Marian disagreed. "Even if we do, how do we know this isn't some sort of trap? You saw Carter's note."

John looked torn. He was a good man, always being the first to help someone in need. But they had King Richard to protect, and not even John could risk the king's life for another.

"Oh, tisk tisk." Marian looked back, so did John. The man was now standing straight, and dropped the old cloak. It was Sir Jasper. He was following them, but he was walking slowly and they gained speed. As Marian turned back to look ahead of her, she noticed something dark in the distance. It was coming nearer. Soon she realized "it" was a whole lot of people dressed in black robes.

"Prepare," John shouted, wielding his staff and pumping his arm into the air, "to fight!"

~*~

Robin looked up anxiously at the sand dunes in the distance.

"Something's wrong."

"I'm not being funny or anything, but it is a long distance. They're probably just minutes-" They looked down at Gizzy's loud barks. A figure stood still before the dog, not moving an inch.

"No. They are not." She unveiled herself as the wench from the tavern.

"Now what are you doing here?"

"I have been told to come." She answered simply.

"I do not trust you."

"You can do as you wish, but I believe your friends require assistance."

Robin banged his fist on the ship's rail. "Damn you, fortune teller!"

"Oh, Robin, I see you met my merchandise." Capitan Thomas came up to him. "They call her Tristessa." At the look Robin gave him, he explained. "I over heard what her previous owner was going to do to her- couldn't sit and let him. As soon as we reach shore, she will have her freedom."

"Right, Tristessa." She gazed at him without expression. "What did you mean, my friends require assistance?"

"Beware, the dark ones."

~*~

Marian raised her sword in time to block the attack, then she kicked the man, hard, in the stomach and did a backwards summersault to create distance. He came at her, attacking again. She pretended to block, but moved instead, then stabbing him with her sword.

So far, the king was safe, and so was the gang, for the most part. John had a large cut on his back, Much was fighting with a now broken arrow in his arm, and Marian had bruises growing from a fist fight with one of the Black Knights. Djac was still well protected, but ready to fight if they managed to get through the rows of Guards around the carriage.

John took out two at once with his staff. Much kicked a man, causing him to fall to his unconsciousness, and Marian attacked the man going for Much's turned back. They continued fighting. Few of the King's Guards went down, and they were making progress against the attack on the king.

"Such beautiful fighting." Jasper applauded them as they continued to fight. He sat and watched as Marian punched a man, and used his shoulders to propel her into the air, kicking the man behind her. She had knocked out the second man, and came back down behind the first to punch him in the kidney, knocking him to his knees, then she kicked him in the head to finally knock him out.

She paid no attention to Jasper as she turned to the man running at her with a sword. She readied herself, but an arrow hit the man coming at her, and she breathed a sigh of relief as she saw Robin, Allan, and Will on horseback, Gizzy running alongside Robin, and a whole lot of soldiers at their heels.

There were still many Black Knights, but now they had the upper hand. Robin and Will stayed on their horses, aiming their arrows well into the enemy. Allan jumped off his horse and joined in the fight.

Robin stopped fighting when he only had one arrow left, he had to catch up to Jasper who had ran the second he saw the first man go down by an arrow. Robin easily caught up, being on a horse.

"You, coward!" Jasper halted and turned with malice in his eyes. "Come on then." Robin taunted with a confident grin. "Fight like a man." He drew his sword. After considering it, Jasper reached for his weapon, started pulling it out slowly, then turned to run. Robin shook his head and pulled his last arrow out. Within minutes, Sir Jasper was laying in the sand with an arrow out his back.

When he made it back to the carriage, Djac and the physician were checking up on the soldiers at the king's command. He went to Marian, and embraced her.

"I am sorry, Marian."

"I can handle myself, you of all people should know this."

He grinned. "Yea, but you shouldn't have to. That's my job."

She smiled, hiding something. "We are only half married, if my memory serves correctly, so it is only half your job to protect me."

"A hindrance easily remedied, since the king is less than a yard away."

Marian's eyes went wide and her mouth dropped as Robin walked, looking at her the whole while, to the carriage.

"Robin-" She called meekly. A part of her longed for it, part of her was scared. She didn't know what she wanted.

Much had seen the sparkle in Robin's eye, as well as the genuine smile. He stopped what he was doing. Allan noticed Much, then his gaze, and watched Robin speaking into the carriage. Soon Will, Djac and John had joined them. They noticed the look in Robin's eyes as he motioned for Marian to come to him, which she did hesitantly. Then Robin looked at his gang, and winked at them.

~*~

Hope you like it! My first attempt at a real fight scene (instead of copying from the episode). I'm excited to see what I write next =) even though.. I know what I'm writing.. Haha! If you're like me and have only seen the first two series, then you probably don't remember Sir Jasper. He was at the head of the army going to destroy Nottingham when the sheriff disappeared in "Walkabout". (re-watching episodes has it's ups while writing fanfics =)