NOTTINGHAM CASTLE

"Someone help Earl Michael!"

The guard's voice allowed a distraction, and as more men patrolling the market came running, Robin spun out of Michaels arms.

The man gave a roar of anger and thrust his sword towards the outlaw, who leapt backwards before picking up his own blade and slamming it against Michaels.

The two quickly locked in heated battle before Robin shoved him away roughly, sending him backwards onto the floor once more, as he spun and grabbed Marian's arm.

He was furious.

"What are you doing?" She demanded as he dragged her backwards through the commotion, his arms locked between her chest and her stomach.

"Get off of me."

He ignored her.

"Robin I was not fighting let go…"

He held her roughly and stopped dragging her.

He grabbed a nearby piece of rope and tied her hands together.

"You…" he secured it tightly, "stay there."

"Robin!" She screamed as he ran off back towards the fight.

Robin spun with his sword and slashed across a guard's body, sending them to the floor.

Michael let out a shout and thrust his sword forwards. Robin raised his own to strike back, only to have a body leap in front of him, and knock Michael's sword from his hand with his own blade.

Michael stared at the man and Rebecca spun.

"Jerome."

Jerome stared at Rebecca, he felt like he had not seen her in days, when in truth it had only been one.

But the relief, the knowledge that she was okay, seen as she was his everything in life, made his brain almost feel as though it was cloudy inside.

Michael looked at the loving expression on his daughters face, and back to the scarred one of Jerome's and growled.

"No!"

Will's shout was too late as Michael lunged to his right.

He grabbed Rebecca's arm and pulled her back against his chest. He had a firm grip on her, and it was clear that he had knocked some of the wind from her.

His glaring eyes were locked on Jerome's.

The rest of the gang were a little way away in a lose semi-circle, littered between them lay the fallen bodies of the soldiers they had beaten.

The gang stared on.

Robin swallowed, knowing that this would not end well.

He wanted to stop it, to do something, but he knew that this was not their fight.

Not anymore.

"Put the sword down boy." Michael sneered as Rebecca struggled in his grip. As Jerome stared at him he produced a dagger from his belt and held it to her neck.
"Or she dies."
Rebecca's eyes widened and Jerome's heart sped up a pace.
He shook his head and lifted his sword.

"Your fight is not with her, fight me, if you are brave enough."

Michael started to laugh scornfully and he shoved Rebecca away to the floor.

She skidded towards Djac, who helped her to her feet.

"I will be rid of you," Michael hissed as he and Jerome circled one another, swords at their sides.

"I will be free of the reminder of your mother's sin…"

Jerome inclined his head slightly, eyes dark.

"A reminder of how much she did not love you."

Michael let out a roar of rage and swung his blade at Jerome, who spun and parried quickly, sending Michael back three paces.

Another cry of anger from Michael and a vicious swing of his arm meant that Jerome's blade flew from his hand and landed near Rebecca.

Michael bragged old of the man's shirt front and pushed him to the floor, towering over him and pushing his sword near Jerome neck.

Everyone drew in a quick breath, but before anyone could move, Michael's sword was flying down towards Jerome, but it stopped instantly.

Michael let out a groan of pain, and he looked down at himself to see a dagger protruding from his chest.

Jerome's hands fell from around its handle, as Michael dropped his sword like it was burning hot, and wretched down at the dagger from his heart.

He stumbled away from Jerome, slowly towards Rebecca, as he tugged and wretched and gagged as he pulled the dagger from his chest.

It fell with a clatter to the floor and the blood on his hands and coming from the corner of his mouth made her whimper and step away, as he groaned and tumbled to the floor, becoming still at last.

Jerome pushed himself to his feet shakily and Rebecca rushed to him, wrapping her arms around him.

"Are you okay?" He asked her.

She nodded, "Let's go home."

Robin watched as they hugged before turning and storming down the alley.

He freed Marian's hands and she immediately struggled against him.

"I told you before, don't you ever tie me up." She snapped, shoving against his shoulders so he had to take a step away from her.

They were both furious

"Marian you cannot do this every time something happens." Robin shouted as he stepped closer.

"I was not even fighting!" She shoved him away again.

"What do you call it then?" He demanded.

She was so angry with him.

"At no point did I lock in combat with another. I saved your life."

"Marian." He snapped, "I do not want you fighting… or for people to see that you are with us…"

"Why not?" She screamed, "Robin I am with you."

Since becoming with child Marian had displayed a tendency to forget the point in their frequent arguments. Robin had to work harder than ever to be patient with her.

"Because if the Sheriff finds out…" he said firmly.

"He knows I am with you!"

"If he finds out about the baby." He snapped.

She scoffed and looked away.

"I don't want you have this conversation and argument with you every time anything happens Marian." He warned, "I don't want to, but I am not going to let you put yourself and our baby in danger when you don't need to… I thought we were past this."

"I just saved your life." She snapped.

"I swear Marian if you don't start…"

"Why don't you just ask the sheriff if I can have a cell in the dungeons, you are good as locking my up nowadays anyway?" She demanded.

He glared at her, his teeth grinding together.

"So help me Marian…"

"Argh…" Marian's hands flew to her stomach as she gasped.

The stabbing pain evaporated instantly.

Robin caught her under the arm and supported her.

His eyes grew anxious.

"Are you okay?" He demanded.

She thought for a moment and ran her hand under her stomach.

She took in a deep breath before letting it out.

"Marian?" He demanded once more.

She swallowed and nodded, letting out a breath.

"I am fine."

"Are you sure?" He asked firmly.

"I'm fine, just tired… come on…" She took in a deep breath and took his hand.

She looked up at him and sighed.

"No more fighting, with you or the guards… I promise... this is my last indiscretion... I will be good from now on, no running, no fighting, no nothing…"

He stared back at her before pulling her into a hug.

She took his hand which wasn't rest on her back and put it under hers on her stomach between them.

She sighed and rested her face against his shoulder, breathing deeply.

Robin rested his chin on top of her head.

He rocked them both gently and she clung to him, breathing in his scent and closing her eyes, letting her mind drift.

"we can go and see Matilda, right now…" He kissed her hair despite his firm words.

She sighed and shook her head, cheek against his chest, held their by his hand on the back of her head.

His other stroked her bely gently between then.

Her hands clasped at his shirt over his chest.

"I just want to go back to camp and go to bed, I think this has been enough for one day." Her eyes remained closed.

He nodded, trusting her thoughts on her body and what she felt.

He tilted his head to kiss her hair gently, resting his chin atop it and holding her tighter.

Her eyes fluttered open tearily and she swallowed, holding herself tighter to him.