Eve was slightly put out by Robin of Locksley's attitude towards her home and her husband. Granted, both had previously belonged to him, but no longer. Although Robin was always courteous and kind, he often gave the impression that he thought he still owned both. It didn't help that most of Bonchurch's servants had once worked for Robin. They still adored him and considered him their Master.

So, when Eve looked out her window and saw Robin riding towards Bonchurch, she was less than pleased, especially since he appeared to be dressed for battle, with his bow, his sword, and his dagger.

Robin leaped from his horse, ran into the Lodge, and was halfway up the stairs before Eve stopped him. "Good day, Robin. Is there something I can do for you?"

He froze, then came back down the stairs. "Apologies, Eve. I'm here for Much. I assume he's upstairs?"

"He is, but he's sleeping. He needs a few hours rest after last night's revel."

"Speaking of which," ventured Robin carefully, "Are you alright?"

"It's a new day with new events. Everything seems brighter in the morning."

Robin cleared his throat and looked grave. Eve knew he hadn't overindulged on drink last evening, but he looked as if he had.

"I need Much. Excuse me, please?" Without waiting for Eve to respond, Robin turned and climbed the stairs two at a time.

"Much," he ordered, upon entering the room, "Wake up. I need you to come to Nottingham with me."

"Wah, wah, wah?" sputtered Much, rubbing his eyes. He had been dreaming of roast pheasant and plum pudding.

"Nottingham. Get up. Now."

"But, Robin," began Much, "It's fine. I just returned from Nottingham. Djaq said Allan's going to apologize. It's fine."

"No, Much," said Robin impatiently. "It's Gisborne. He's back. We need to go see the Sheriff and hunt Gisborne down."

"WHAT?"

Robin grabbed some of Much's clothing and threw it at him. "Get dressed, Much! I need you!"

"Of course! Of course! I…I…Gisborne?"

"Yes. He wants my children. He wants Marian. You've got to help me."

"Yes…yes…get dressed…now…immediately!"

Robin ran back down the stairs, out the door, and went to the stables to order a horse to be saddled for Much.

Much's head still felt like it was splitting, but Robin needed him! Gisborne! After all this time! Unbelievable!

In almost no time at all, Much came running down the stairs, sword and shield in hand.

"What is happening?' Eve asked, in a panic. Robin wasn't convincing Much to fight Allan, was he? She thought that mess had been settled.

"Come on, Much, let's go!"

Much looked at his wife's worried face, and realized that it might be the very last time he would ever see her. "Wait one moment, Robin. I need to say 'goodbye' to my wife."

"Of course," said Robin quietly, and returned to the stables.

"Eve, Guy of Gisborne is back. I need to go with Robin and…and find him. Capture him, or kill him."

Eve gasped. "Gisborne!" She looked at Much, trying to grasp what he had just told her. "Be careful," she said quietly. "Come back to me."

They kissed, and he tried to tell her how greatly he loved her.

"I love you, too, " she said. "Only you."

He did not know why she said that last part, but it made him feel all warm inside to hear it.

"You are so brave," Eve said, but Much didn't feel brave. He felt frightened…frightened he might die…frightened Robin might die…frightened they both might die.

He kissed his wife once more, and promised he would return to her.

…

In another part of the shire, Djaq was returning home. She noticed Will standing outside of Locksley Manor, arms folded across his chest, body tense, face intent on the children playing there. Daniel and Saffia were playing with Robin and Marian's two little girls, and Djaq wondered what was going on. She approached her husband, and stood on tiptoe to greet him with a kiss. She still wore her satisfied smile from her visit with Allan and Much.

"You look pleased with yourself," Will said.

"And you look worried."

"A lot to be worried about," he replied. "Gisborne was here last night."

"Gisborne! Is Marian alright?" Djaq had literally saved Marian's life twice from stab wounds Gisborne had inflicted on her.

"She's fine. Robin said to let her sleep. Gisborne raided the house when everyone was at the party. He trashed the girl's chamber and carved the word "mine" in Robin's headboard."

Djaq gasped. "Where's Robin?"

"Gone to Nottingham. He's asking the Sheriff for men to find Gisborne. He asked me to stay here and watch over his family. I brought your sword. It's inside, on the dining table."

Djaq nodded. As she was entering the house to get her sword, she heard Baby Grace begin to cry.

Grace, who had just recently learned to walk, had fallen and bumped her head. Djaq ran to her to check her injuries.

"She's fine," she assured the children, who were quite worried about the baby. "I think she's more angry than hurt."

"Daddy says she's stubborn like Mama, and Mama says she's stubborn like Daddy, and then they laugh," said Ellen.

When Grace heard the word "Mama," she began to wail more loudly than Djaq thought possible. Her own children had never behaved like this.

The children's nurse seemed unconcerned. She was used to Grace's temper. "She's angry, and tired. It's past time for her nap. Just lay her in that lovely cradle your husband there made for her, and she'll go to sleep in no time at all."

Will whispered to Djaq, who had to strain to hear him over the baby's cries, "The cradle's gone. Gisborne destroyed it."

"Mama! Mama!" Grace cried.

"She wants Mama, " said Ellen. Will had to bite his tongue to keep from saying something sarcastic. "Don't cry, Gracie," said Ellen sweetly.

Grace's cries were escalating. "MAMA! MAMA!" Will whispered to Djaq, "We're never having more children!" Djaq glared at him.

"MAMA! MAMA!"

"That's it, " Djaq decided. "I'm taking her to Marian. Will, please hold her for me?"

Will asked Thornton to keep watch over Ellen, Daniel, and Saffia, while he and Djaq took care of Grace.

Will carried Grace up the stairs to Marian's room. Djaq knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Grace was screaming by this time.

"She might have said, 'Enter,' " Will ventured. "Who could hear over the wailing?"

Djaq agreed, and opened the door. The room was empty.

"I thought you said she was sleeping," Djaq yelled.

"She was! Robin told me to let her sleep!"

Then they saw it…a rope tied to the bedpost, leading out the window and all the way to the ground.

Will and Djaq immediately guessed what Marian had done.

They began calling her name. Grace was still screaming and Djaq had only felt so much chaos one time in her life, the time she had been captured to be sold to be a slave.

Will handed Grace back to Djaq, and began running all over the manor, calling for Marian. He knew it was hopeless, but he had to find her! Robin had trusted him to protect her. He ran outside, only to find

Thornton asleep on a stool and the children gone.

Will was beginning to panic. He shook the old man. "Where are the children?"

Thornton looked surprised. "Forgive me," he said. "I was up all night. I did not mean to sleep."

"Where are the children?" Will asked again.

Thornton merely shook his head.

Suddenly, Daniel and Saffia came running into the yard, breathless and frightened. Will grabbed Daniel's shoulders.

"Where's Ellen?" he asked.

"We're sorry!" cried Saffia.

"Where's Ellen?" Will repeated.

"We took her to see the blackberry bushes. A big man in black got her. He took her away on his horse."

Will took off running as fast as he could towards the blackberry bushes over the hill. Djaq stood as if frozen. Baby Grace had stopped crying and was asleep in Djaq's arms at last.