Author's Note: I know I have so many loyal readers. And I know I haven't been very good at updating. I apologize. You have stuck around and I have been failing you as an author. I promise to start updating this. We're almost to the halfway point. You all are wonderful, you know that. Absolutely marvelous. Thank you for your kind reviews.

Chapter Eleven

Lily crawled through the window. She sat on the windowsill and removed her boots and then lightly padded to the dressing area to put on her nightgown. As she slipped into bed, She pushed and prodded against the hay-filled mattress trying to get comfortable.

"Lily?"

"Sorry."

"What?" She heard Marian shift around in the bed. Lily didn't roll over in the hopes that the lack of movement might keep Marian from continuing to talk.

"Where have you been?"

"Out."

"You've been out every night since you arrived. Where are you going?"

"Marian…" Lily sighed and rolled onto her back, staring at the bed canopy above her. "It's just that I shouldn't tell you."

"You shouldn't?"

"Well… No. I shouldn't. It's safer if you don't know. If you're oblivious."

Marian sat up in bed. "Therefore, you should tell me. I do a better clueless act if I know what I'm trying to conceal."

Lily put her hands behind her head. "I've been sent to steal something from the Sheriff. It is the only thing that will prove his treachery, as well as that of Prince John."

"What is it?"

Lily turned on her side. "It's a map. Prince John created a map of Britain—and how it was to be given to those who remained loyal to him during the… well, you know…"

Marian sighed. "Alright. And so your plan is to do what, exactly?"

Lily sat up and rubbed her hands over her face. "You've set up the diversion. There will be a ball. I will need to disappear for a few minutes to search for the map. I assume that the sheriff keeps these things in his private quarters. I think I can manage the guards."

"And Robin? He is to join you?"

Lily shrugged. "Yes. He and the rest of his men have agreed to come in disguise and aide me whether by creating a more localized diversion in the opposite end of the palace, or simply ensuring some people remain occupied during my searching."

"And me?"

Lily looked at her cousin. "I was hoping that you would be willing to occupy Sir Guy. He seems to be rather interested in… well, whatever it is that seems suspicious. Can you manage?"

Marian laughed. "I will see what I can manage."

Sherwood Forest, the next morning

"We have two days to make you into proper lords. Much?"

"Yes?"

"I think we should all be shaved… except of course, for Djaq," Robin said as he tipped his head toward her. "Can you and Will fetch some water from the river and we'll have a go at cleaning ourselves up for this most important of events?"

"But… fine. Come on, Will," Much mumbled as they walked down to the river.

Robin turned back to John, Djaq, and Allan. "Now, while they are gone, we will discuss assignments." He gestured toward the campfire. He had drawn in the dirt a map of the sheriff's castle. He crouched low as the three gathered around him. He took the stick that he had used to drawn the picture and began marking in the sand.

"John. You'll take the guard's position near his private chambers. This will allow me to get in and rummage without someone else's interference."

John nodded his approval. Robin smiled and pointed to the servant's entrance to the castle. "Djaq. You will be Lily's servant. You are to speak with the Sheriff's servants and try to gather any information that you can from them that might prove useful to us in the future. Also, I plan to have this as a secondary escape if the front gates refuse to allow us to escape."

"Here is the water, my lord."

"Thank you, Much." He gestured for Will and Much to join the rest of the group. "The rest of us will be spread through the party. Since Sir Guy know Allan and Much—you two should probably be disguised as servants. You will stay close to Lily and Marian—ensure their safety if anything does not go according to plan. And I will meet John at the sheriff's quarters and find whatever it is that Lily is looking for." He drew an "X" in the place he was talking about.

"Now. The signal that you, Much, and you, Allan, can slip away is Lily asking Sir Guy for a dance. When she does that—Much and Will, make your exit through the main doors, and Allan will go for Djaq and we will all rendez-vous here. Make sure you are not followed as per usual."

He stood to his full height. "Now. To shave. And then to discuss etiquette."

That evening. Knighton Hall.

Lily feigned a yawn. "I'm so sorry, Uncle. This rural life seems to make me more tired than staying out all night with my friends. Curious. "

Marian also yawned. "I'm a bit tired too, Father."

He looked sternly between the two of them. "Do I even want to know what you two have been plotting?"

Lily looked to her cousin for an answer. Marian was looking at Lily to respond.

He set his wooden spoon on the table. "What is going on here, Lily? Marian?"

Lily lowered her head as if to bang it on the table. She looked up and smiled. "Nothing, Uncle. We've both had an exhausting day."

"I don't believe you," he said without missing a beat.

"It's better if you don't know, Uncle," Lily said keeping eye contact with him.

He pounded his fist against the table. "Confound it all!" Both Lily and Marian jumped as he pounded and shouted. "I will not pretend to be blind. You will tell me what is going on."

Lily lowered her head, her blond hair falling in front of her face creating a curtain. "Very well. I will tell you and Marian everything." She looked up across the table. Marian's eyes had grown large, her eyebrows lifting. Lily put her hands on the table, bracing herself. "I am a spy for King Richard."

She paused, allowing the words to sink in. "I am under suspicion of Prince John and so I came here to get proof of his treachery."

Marian's jaw dropped. Lily looked to her uncle for his reaction. His gaze remained on hers. She had told her story. It was now his turn.

He cleared his throat. "I see. And this celebration in your honor, tomorrow? Is that part of the plan?"

"Yes," she said. "Yes, it is. And tonight, I must go help Robin and his men prepare to attend to aid me."

Sir Edward looked to Marian who was still staring at Lily. "And Marian? What is your excuse for going?"

At the sound of her name, she turned to her father. Then her face paled and quickly turned red.

"I see. I expected as much." He pushed back from the table and stood. "My recommendations to you both," he said looking between the two girls "is to be very careful. It is better that you never been seen with Robin Hood. Or his men. Especially tomorrow night."

Marian nodded. "Of course, Father. We understand."

He sighed and leaned over his chair. "I'm retiring to my bed, girls." He looked between the two again. "Do not do anything too dangerous this evening," he said with a smile.

He left the room and went upstairs, his footsteps growing louder as he padded around his room right above their heads. Lily turned to Marian. "Perhaps we should change before we go?"

Marian smiled and raced up the stairs. Lily followed quickly.

Sherwood Forest.

Lily and Marian were riding their horses as quickly as they could through the forest. Marian took the lead and guided them through the back ways until they could see the campfire. They were both in bottoms fit for squires, but Marian let her hair fly free. For a moment, she felt as though she and her cousin were children again--going to play games and torment Robin and Much. Lily had her blond hair braided in a crown above her head.

That was when Marian realized that they weren't children anymore. Lily was not just Lily Fitzwater, but rather Lady Fitzwater. She was one of the member's of Prince John's court. One of the royalty. The King would decide who she would marry.

Marian slowed her horse to a trot as they came upon the camp. She pulled the horse to a stop. Robin walked close and held the reins to keep the horse steady while she dismounted. She took the reins from him and began to walk to the tree. Robin came up alongside her and took hold of her hand. He entwined his fingers in hers.

She wrapped the reins around a nearby tree branch. Robin wrapped his hands around her waist and leaned his chin on her shoulder.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Robin?"

"Hmmm," he replied as he began to kiss her neck.

A cough from behind separated them. Lily was standing with her black horse behind her. She was using the horse to shadow her face, although Marian could see enough to see that her cousin was smiling.

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but..."

Marian sighed. "Yes. You seem so sorry about that."

Robin kept his hands around Marian's waist. "Does it bother you, Lily? You jealous?"

Lily made a gagging noise as she walked her horse around to the other side of the tree and tied the reins. "Incredibly jealous... of the trees. At least they don't have to watch you," she said and then skipped toward the fire.

Marian started to move towards the fire, but Robin held her next to him. "Robin. I really think we should..."

He turned her in his arms then leaned down and captured her lips. Marian sighed and leaned into the kiss, her arms moving up his shoulders and around to the back of his neck. Robin deepened the kiss, coaxing her mouth open with his tongue. Her hands went to hair, pulling him as close as she could.

This was heaven. It had to be. Wherever his hands touched, she felt heat. He had so much power over her. And she didn't really like that. She wondered if she had any power over him. It would only be right that she did.

"Oi. What are we doing?"

Robin leaned his forehead against Marian's and began to chuckle. He kissed her forehead then pulled away from her, moving his hand down her arm to hold hers.

Allan was standing near the campfire, Lily was next to him, holding a hand over her mouth. Marian rolled her eyes and looked at Robin. He was staring at their hands, smiling softly to himself. His eyes lifted to her face. He watched her as he brought her hand to meet his lips.

Lily's laughter ended the romantic moment very quickly.

"I'm sorry," she said in between coughing and laughing. "I'm really sorry."

Allan went over to Lily and held her wrists. He whispered something to her. Lily's face went white and then bright red in a matter of seconds. She wrestled her wrists away from him.

"Let's get on with this. It's going to be a long night, I presume," Lily said as she went back to the campfire.

Marian turned to Robin. "Should I be concerned about my cousin's behavior?"

Robin looked towards Lily, then back at Marian. He placed both hands on her cheek and held her face gently. "No. You shouldn't. Someone should be concerned—but that someone isn't you."

He took Marian's hand and lead her to the campfire.