I must admit that this is a very dramatic chapter a lot happens and the story actually gets going :)

He watched her as she slept, so peaceful and calm, her chest rising and falling as she breathed. Her full red lips were slightly parted, her breath slipping out and causing a stray strand of hair to quiver. She looked so angelic and innocent, her pale skin slightly flushed, her long dark hair contrasting sharply with it.

He stroked a strand of her hair, an absent minded action, never taking his eyes off her face.

"Robin?" A sharp voice cut through his thoughts and he looked up to see Kate standing above him, gazing down on him with anger painting her face. "What was that?" She snapped, "You just bolted!"

Robin looked at her and then slowly and deliberately turned to Marian.

Kate scowled, and made a noise between a snort and a grunt, turning her back on him and slumping back to her cot.

Robin sighed as he looked after her. "Kate-" He began, holding his hand out towards her.

"Robin?" A small voice murmured, and his arm dropped down as if it was made of lead, his head snapping down to look at the angel beside him.

"Oh Marian!" He gasped in relief, pulling her closer to him, burying his face in her velvety hair.

"Robin?" She blinked at him again, frowning in confusion. "What..." She trailed off as the memories returned. She flinched slightly and then looked up at him for confirmation.

"Robert?"

"Yes," He stared at her helplessly. "I'm so sorry my love, I should have been there to stop him, you shouldn't have had to go through that."

She shook her head, sighing. "There was nothing you could do, you should not blame yourself." She reached up and caressed his cheek in her soft hand.

He placed his hand over hers. "No, I should have stopped him."

"No,"

"He hurt you, he dared to touch you; I should kill him." He started to rise; anger flowing through him, blocking out the rest of the world, forming a knot inside him.

"No, Robin, do not." She took his hand, holding it tightly, pulling him back onto the cot.

He turned to her, desperately willing her to let him go.

"No," she was firmer now. "No Robin, I will not let you be so foolish."

"That is ridiculous Marian! I must stop him."

"But not now," she whispered. "Stay with me."

He frowned sceptically.

"Please," She whispered.

He gave in.

Xxx

The forest was quiet as they walked, the early morning air cool as the autumn leaves crunched underfoot. A slight mist hung over the forest, making them feel protected from the outside world.

Their voices echoed from the treetops as they bantered.

"I'm telling you that was not my fault!" He laughed, smiling at her.

"It was!" She cried.

"It was not, we argued, I only wanted to make it up to you!"

"By climbing through my window at midnight?"

"It seemed like the right thing to do at the time."

"Oh yes, of course, climbing ten feet up my wall and then falling!"

"That was not my fault-"

"It so was!" She exclaimed, giving him a little shove. "You climbed up my wall and then fell, almost waking half of Nottingham. Then I had to nurse you all night before sneaking you out again and getting caught on my way back in!"

He stopped for a minute considering this.

"Yeah, I suppose it was kind of my fault wasn't it?"

She laughed again, smiling at him.

"Well, I'm glad someone is having fun." A dark voice cut through her light hearted laughter.

They both froze, spinning around to see the dark figure behind them. Immediately Robin darted in front of her, pushing her behind him, taking a defensive stance in front of her.

"Hood," Guy smiled at him nastily. "Glad to see you are finally with her."

Robin snarled, glowering at Gisbourne.

"Oh come on Robin, I thought we were over this weird thing you have against me."

Robin shook his head ferociously. "Never," He promised, his voice more of a hiss.

But Gisbourne was not interested in him any more. "Marian," He said softly, turning to look at her around Robin, his whole demeanour changing. "Is it really you?"

She nodded silently. "Yes," She whispered, trying to ignore the instinctive fear that crawled up around her. "It is me."

"I am so sorry," He whispered despairingly.

"I forgive you Guy," Marian murmured.

Robin pulled her into a hug and shot a glare at Guy, "You are lucky she is so forgiving."

"I know." He sighed.

"Leave Guy." Robin said.

Gisbourne nodded, his head still hung. "Until next time." He disappeared into the foliage, a disconcerting thing for Robin, but he was too busy soothing Marian to pay so much attention.

Isabella stalked the corridors of the castle impatiently. Ideas flitted through her head, but she dismissed them just as quickly. What she needed was a fool-proof plan. One where Robin would have no way what so ever of pinpointing her as the source.

Her mind wandered to the blonde girl, Kate, the one who shot the pair as dark a looks as she. However she hid her obvious contempt well and it was evident Robin knew nothing of her feelings. He clearly thought that she thought of him as nothing but a friend. Although Isabella could tell that she wanted the woman of the way as much as she.

She looked up as she saw where her wanderings had taken her. The door to the great hall was open and she frowned as she heard the voices drifting out. Curiosity filled her and she slipped quietly inside to see Lord Robert and Clarendon in conversation. Her interest captured she glided down the stairs, moving over to the wine and mugs that stood at the side.

Subtly, just as her rival had done many months earlier, though she did not know it, Isabella poured the wine into the mugs and walked towards them.

Clarendon looked up and frowned before seeing what she carried and his face splitting into a wide smile.

"Wine!" He boomed, beaming. "The woman brings wine Robert, that should rise your spirits!" He roared with laughter at his joke, taking the wine from her.

She turned and handed Robert the wine.

"If you don't mind," She started. "Why do you feel discontented, Lord Robert?"

Robert frowned at her but Clarendon boomed with laughter again. "Robert is pinning for his lady love!"

"Lady love?" Isabella frowned.

"The woman that came in with Hood, she and Robert had an encounter of sorts, in the dungeons." Clarendon said lazily. "What was her name again Robert? Marian, wasn't it?"

Isabella, stiffened, and then beamed fully. A eureka moment.

Clarendon turned then and frowned hazily at her, "what are you still doing here?" He demanded.

With that Isabella turned and fled, only just able to suppress skipping up the stairs.

Xxx

When Lord Robert left the great hall, he was surprised to be accosted. Looking down he saw Clarendon's wife, Isabella, he thought.

"Yes?" He demanded.

"I understand you have a want to see Hood's girl again?" She asked it quietly, leading him away gently.

"What of it?"

"I can get her for you."

He stared at her in amazement.

"You can get Marian?" He finally clarified.

"Yes,"

"How?"

"Hood trusts me," She explained. "I can lure her away, you would just have to meet me, to take her."

"And then?"

"She will be all yours."

He looked at her considering. "All mine?"

"To the final hair on her head," Isabella promised.

He smiled cunningly at her. "Wonderful," He smiled, drawing the word out longer, "Just wonderful."

Kate measured the pebble in her hand, weighing it carefully. It was smooth and round, not too heavy and yet heavy enough to go a long way if she threw it correctly.

She pulled her arm back and swung it fiercely, watching with a sick satisfaction as it flew away and finally breeched the water's surface, causing an almighty splash that made the birds abandon their nests.

She sighed again, the adrenalin fading from her veins, and slumped on the floor.

"Why hello." She was on her feet again instantly, spinning around and dropping into a defensive crouch as she stared at the intruder.

It was Isabella.

"What do you want?" She demanded, keeping her eyes on her all the time.

"To talk to you actually," Isabella pulling her skirts up from around her ankles and made her way over to her.

"Me?" Kate looked nonplussed.

"Yes," Isabella's tone was patronising. "You."

"Why?" Kate asked suspiciously.

"Well, I think we may have something in common."

Kate snorted. "Me, have something in common with you?"

"Yes," Isabella's tone was delicate, patient.

"What?" Kate demanded rudely.

"A dislike." Isabella clarified.

"A dislike..."

"Marian." Was all Isabella said.

She watched carefully as Kate's face darkened and her eyes took on a new brooding expression. "What about her? She is Robin's wife, what of it?"

"Ah, but we all know he doesn't want her." Isabella convinced her persuasively.

"Really?" Kate raised an eyebrow, a talent she had had from birth.

"He wants us," Isabella clarified. "He just feels obligated to be with her."

"Obligated?" Kate seemed more interested. "You think?"

"Well, obviously."

"But what can we do?" Kate sighed and picked up another stone, chucking it roughly into the water. It fell short and landed close to them, spraying Isabella with water.

Kate smirked at the now damp Isabella, who shook herself like a disgruntled cat.

"You only have to do the bare minimum." She explained. "Just get her to me, I'll take it from there. You need to lure her from the camp."

Kate frowned at her. "Lure her?"

Isabella rolled her eyes. "Yes, to the appointed place, we will take it from there."

"We?" Kate frowned in confusion.

"Yes, myself and my friend."

"Who-" Kate started but thought better of it, she may not like this friend. What she didn't know couldn't hurt her.

Isabella smiled. "Good, I'm glad we got that sorted."

"When?" Kate snapped, impatient to be getting back now. She didn't like to be around this woman. Isabella was always thinking. She was quick and cutting and made Kate feel slow and unsteady.

"Tonight,"

"Tonight?" Kate stared at her aghast.

"Do you want this done or not!"This time it was Isabella who snapped, her patience, apparently, caving.

"Okay, where do I take her?"

"To the crossroads. Be there by midnight."

Kate nodded curtly.

"One more question." She said. "And then you leave."

Isabella nodded in silent agreement.

"Why me?"

It was a simple question, but it had been nagging Kate, eating away at her ever since Isabella had started talking.

Isabella smiled widely. "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." She said simply.

Kate could feel the guilt eating away at her all evening. As they sat around the fire, laughing and joking she watched how Robin would display his affection towards Marian. There wasn't a lot, if you had looked quickly you would not have noticed. But they were there. The way he put his arm around her when she sat. The way that, when he looked at her, his whole expression lit up, as if he was seeing her for the first time. The way he took her hand when they rose, rising together, as if in harmony.

And each one of these cut at her sole.

But she didn't swerve, just looking at Marian made her resolve strengthen. She could make him as happy as she was. Just because he had met her first did not mean she was the best for him.

Kate scowled and clenched her fists. She would get rid of Marian, if it was the last thing she did.

It was late, the outlaws were asleep, each one of them slumbering softly. Kate slid silently from the bed and scanned the camp. Yes, there she was, sat by the large rock on the corner of the camp.

Smiling slightly Kate moved up behind her.

"Hi," She said in her ear, causing Marian to jump and spin around.

Her face relaxed when she saw who it was.

"Hey," She greeted her warmly. "Can't sleep?" Her expression was sympathetic and concerned.

Kate felt a twinge of guilt.

"No," She said sullenly, seating herself next to her on the rock. "You?"

"No, I can't," Marian sighed.

There was a silence.

"Walk with me?" Kate asked suddenly, leaping to her feet.

Marian frowned at her, "Now?" She enquired curiously, looking out into the dark shadows.

"Yes, a walk can clear the head very well," Kate persuaded.

She wasn't convinced, Kate could tell.

"Don't worry," She soothed. "I will protect you."

A spark of something flashed in Marian's eyes and for a moment Kate saw who she could be, deadly, dangerous, agile Marian, who could kill you within a minute and was independent and strong. Then she was gone as Marian smiled again.

"Alright then, I shall."

She pushed herself from the rock and turned to Kate expectantly.

"Lead on,"

Xxx

It was almost pitch black when they reached Dead Man's Crossing; the moon seemed to have been extinguished from the sky by the intense darkness.

Kate led Marian to the crossroads quickly, eager for her task to be over. The ground beneath her feet seemed rough and the sword in her hilt stiff and unfamiliar. In fact, the night itself seemed heavy, the air pressing in on her like some almighty weight.

She stopped jerkily, standing, waiting expectantly for something to happen. It was only then that she realised that she knew nothing of what would happen from here on in. It could be a trick to capture both her and Marian. It could be a test from Robin, maybe everyone was in on it...

There was a movement in the shadows and two cloaked figures suddenly appeared from the dense foliage.

...maybe Allan would appear now, and Robin, flashing his crooked smile and laughing...

The figures circled them, Marian watched them uneasily.

"Kate," she said uncertainly. "Kate." She repeated more franticly.

Then one of the figures dove in behind Marian, grabbing her arms and wrists, securing them behind her in one quick motion.

Marian tried to scream, struggling against her bounds as the second figure secured a thick piece of cloth in her mouth, muffling out all screams.

And as the second figure slung Marian effortlessly over their shoulder and the first figure nodded at her, Kate realised:

This was no game.

Xxx

Robin's worry when he woke up to find Marian gone was unprecedented. His eyes wide he woke all the outlaws questioning them all on Marian, if they had seen her and where she had gone. When they all shook their heads, he ordered them all out to look for her, telling Djaq to stay at the camp in case she returned.

They were alone in the camp apart from Djaq when Kate placed an arm on his shoulder, gently directing his fleeting attention.

"Kate?" Robin frowned at her. "What is it?" He demanded impatiently.

"I think I know where Marian is," Kate said quietly.

"What?" Robin span around gazing at her intently.

"I didn't want to say earlier," She bit her lip for extra effect. "I hoped I wasn't right."

"What is it Kate?" Robin grasped her shoulders in his hands, staring at her, gazing into her eyes.

"She..." Kate gulped and sent a quick prayer that this would work. "She said that she has gone to Leicestershire."

Robin looked at her nonplussed. "Leicestershire?" He repeated. "No Kate, you must have heard wrong, I mean, what possible reason has Marian got to go to Leicestershire?"

"She's in love." Kate blurted out.

Robin turned and looked at her slowly. "She's in what?" His voice was suddenly calm, very different from the half hysterical Robin who had been there only a few moments ago.

"She said she was in love, with Edward of Leicestershire." Kate sighed and let concern and sympathy cover her gaze as Marian had only last night. "She told me last night, as she left."

"She..." Robin stared at her. "No, you're lying." He spluttered, no longer calm and collected.

"I'm sorry Robin," She shook her head sadly and then hesitantly reached into the pocket hidden in the folds of her gown. "I found this in her chest." She pulled out a small silver locket, intricately designed, that she had accosted from a noble a few weeks earlier.

Robin took it silently, and stared at it. Then slowly he folded up his palm, sinking onto a log.

Kate placed and comforting hand on his shoulders, sitting next to him. "It's okay Robin, I'm here, you're not alone, I'm here."

Then Robin Hood, defender of the poor, Lord of Locksley, Earl of Huntingdon, Hero of England, began to cry.