Another update...i guess i really like writing this story...this is pretty good for me...keeps my fingers busy...please read this and review and enjoy

Chapter eleven: You know now…now what?

As Guy and the sheriff interrogated Marian, Robin Hood was walking through Sherwood Forest. He figured that maybe if he was alone with his thoughts he would be able to reflect and deal with the Marian issue.

But being alone wasn't very different than being in camp. And soon he found that he was just stumbling aimlessly through the forest. Then up ahead he saw a body. Robin's stride broke into a run as he raced to the body.

As he bent by the figure's side he saw that he could recognize the face. It was Edward!

Robin became shaking him. "Sir Edward, wake up!"

Very slowly Edward began to open his eyes. A small smile spread across his aged face. It was a smile of the sweet victory of success. Now he knew that no matter what happened, his daughter would be safe, because Robin was here.

"Robin," moaned Edward.

Robin smiled down at his old friend. But he then started to shake. Edward was free! How was that possible? Guy could have freed Edward. Well that made sense. But if Guy were with Marian, Edward would not have been dumped in the forest like garbage. And that was true also. There was something very wrong with this entire situation.

"Edward," said Robin. "Try sitting up."

But the brave man shook his head and sighed. "Robin, there is something important I need to tell you. And from the looks of things, I might not have much time to do the telling."

Robin shook his head. "No, everything will be alright, trust me. What happened to you?"

Edward chuckled. "I was running through this godforsaken forest all night long and eventually I was so tired that I just stopped running and fell. And I've been lying like this until you found me. And Robin, I'm not sure if I want to get up again."

The man of the woods tried to regain his breathing. "Edward, you've got to sit up. Please! You'll be alright, what did you want to tell me?"

The forest itself seemed to go quiet. Edward looked straight into Robin's green eyes. "Marian, is in grave danger."

At those words Robin almost stopped breathing. He gripped Edward's hand. Edward continued. "She was being stupid. She thought she could save an old man like me by—"

The young man interrupted. "Yeah I know, by sleeping with Guy. She told me all about it."

Now it was Edward's turn to look dumbfounded. Then he relaxed and closed his eyes. "First of all," he said, "Marian would never do a thing like that. She would never give up her virtue that willingly to a man who disgusts her, even if it was to save a bugger like me. Secondly, she has her mother's stubbornness. And I did not want to stop her, because, well she seemed so sure and determined. I love her too much Robin, I should never have let her risk her life."

Green eyes locked onto the closed eyes. "What did she do Edward?"

"Marian dressed up as the night watchman last night. She crept into the dungeons, stole the keys, and unlocked my prison door. She led me outside the dungeons but there were guards waiting for us. We both tried to fight when we realized it was a useless battle, she told me to run. I ran and…you know the rest."

Conversations of the past with Marian began flooding back into Robin's mind. Now it all made sense. Everything that she told him had been twisted around in his own head because of his jealousy.

I'm a fool. He thought. She was practically telling me about this plan, and I did not listen to her. Why did I not listen?

Edward looked up into the eyes of a man full of new knowledge. "Robin, she was dressed as the night watchman. By now—"

"I know," Robin sighed and closed his own eyes. "By now they've found out about her and they could be doing god knows what to her. I am the worst fiancé ever."

Edward opened his tired worn out eyes. "You are engaged to her?"

Robin blushed. "I gave her the ring that my father gave to my mother."

The old man closed his eyes again. "Then I can indeed go in peace."

"What?" Robin yelled. "Edward, Sir Edward, you cannot just give up. You must live, for your daughter, you can't just give up."

"Robin, I want you to listen to me."

The man of the woods bent closer to his future father-in-law. "Yes?"

"If I had not been imprisoned, escaped, and then ran all night long, I would still have to face the reality that I'm going to die. And I've been thinking a lot lately about the way that I exit this world. This…route…seems like the best way, and I wouldn't have chosen a better one. My daughter is safe in your hands, you will protect her and cherish her, and love her the way I never did. Yes, indeed I am happy Robin of Locksley."

And then he stopped speaking and his breathing lessened until Robin could hear it no longer. Then he checked Edward's heart. It had stopped beating. And tears started streaming from Robin's eyes. He cried for Edward, he cried for Marian, he cried for himself and how stupid and insipid he had been.

At last he stood up and realized he would have to bury a body. He couldn't very well drag Edward's body all the way back to camp, and there was no other option than burying Edward right here on this spot. So the hero began digging quickly into the earth. But he stopped just as quickly.

A pointless endeavor. Robin concluded. I need a shovel of some sort.

He ran up to a tree. There was a long, thick, branch already dangling off the end of the tree. Robin ripped it off and ran back over to Edward's body. Soon he resumed his digging and this time the work went much faster. Once he dug a hole large enough he gently guided Edward's body into the burial spot. After he made sure it was safely in the hole, he then began to cover up the body with dirt.

The sun was above Robin's head when he was finally complete, cross and all. Now all that was left was the eulogy. "Sir Edward was a good man. He fought for justice even when corrupt leaders surrounded him from all sides. He loved his wife and his daughter more than anything. And Edward was a good and kind man. Let his soul rest in heaven forever. God be with you Edward."

Then Robin walked slowly away. But unlike his walk away from camp, he walked to camp with fresh anger and new resolve. They could be torturing her! They could kill her! God what if they killed her? Please do not let me be late!

He broke into a run.

Will was the first to see him. He was surprised to see Robin out of breath and panting. He raised an eyebrow and took out his axe. "Are we in danger?"

Robin shook his head. "No, but Marian is."

Will ran back to get the others and soon they were all crowding around Robin as he recounted his conversation with Edward, and what happened afterwards too. He managed to keep the tears from flowing this time. Djaq could not. She started crying quietly. Will put an arm around her shoulder and kissed her cheek.

"Well, what are we going to do now?" Much asked.

All eyes turned to Robin. He looked back at them. "We need to rescue her. But I do not want you to come with me."

"Oh come on! We'll be missing all the fun," complained Allan.

"After hearing that story," said Will. "I really want to make sure that Guy and the sheriff pay, big time."

Djaq, just recovering nodded in agreement.

"You need all of us Robin," said Little John.

Robin shook his head. "I love you all for wanting to help me. But I think that is something I need to do on my own. I'm the idiot who misinterpreted what she said. I'm the bastard who did not listen to her when she was clearly trying to talk to me. I have to do this alone."

So the gang watched as Robin prepared himself for the trip to the castle. No one stopped him as he swung his arrows around his shoulder. The only sound was the whispering wind, as he draped a clock around his shoulders. His feet made no sound on the earth floor as he walked towards Nottingham castle.

But there was one small sound. It was the sound that his heart made. It kept beating rapidly, faster than a normal heart should be beating. It was the heart of a man completely unsure of his destiny. It was the heart of a man who needed to seriously kick another's arse. It was the heart of a man…in love.

you know...i cant believe i killed edward...he was the first character i've ever killed in any story ive ever written...anyway...ed dies saving his daughter and now hes passed on his warning to our hero robin?? and now robin walks runs whatevers to the castle?? will he make it in time?? or will it be like a repeat of the last epsidoe from season 2?? hmmm...lets hope for option number one...after all thats the beauty of fan fiction...we have the power to change the course of a story with simple words and a great sight..as allways i love you all please enjoy this