**Review! Back to the story line! This one is a lot longer than my other two chapters! Enjoy and PLEASE REVIEW! I LOVE READING THEM! Seriously people! On to the story!**

Peace? Off!

The walk back to the camp was spent in a cautious silence. I could feel Allan's frequent, concerned glances at me as I walked quickly in front of him. Thankfully, camp was deserted when we got there, so no one had to see my red eyes or shaking hands as I rummaged through my bags to find some new clothes. I found all the things I needed to take my bath and put them in a neat bundle to carry. Allan's eyes watched me all the while, and instead of making me uneasy, it was oddly comforting.

"What happened?" Allan finally asked as I stood up.

"Nothing. Forget about it." Even to myself my voice sounded weak and unconvincing. "I'm going to bathe. I'll be back in fifteen minutes."

"Well, I'm not being funny but it doesn't look like nothing." He continued, ignoring my protests and my attempt to change the subject. Normally, I would have come back with some coy comeback like 'really, well what does it look like?' but I couldn't bring myself to say those words.

"Well it is." Was all that came out in a defeated murmur as I tried to move past him, fixing my eyes on the ground. He stepped in front of me and gently fingered my face in between his hands, forcing me to look up into his concerned, crystal eyes. "Allan," I softly whispered his name, gently taking one of his hands off my face and lacing my fingers through his. "I'll be okay. I promise." The scary thing was, I wasn't entirely sure I was telling the truth. I moved past him then, and he didn't try to stop me this time, just stood there as I walked into the woods, my hand slowly sliding out of his.

I took my time bathing, letting the water wash away all my sins and nightmares and clearing my head a little. Once I'd gotten out and dressed, I headed back to camp with renewed purpose. Keep the past in the past and only live for the present. That was what mother always taught me anyways. Maybe she had actually gotten something right for once. When I reached camp, one of the two groups had returned. They were so loud I could hear them before I even stepped foot in camp. Will and John had returned, which meant Robin, Djaq, and Much were still making rounds in their villages. Both John and Will looked up as I entered camp and put my stuff back in my bag. I did it with such nonchalance that it took a moment for them to register I was back.

"Clara!" Will's excited exclamation was met with a smile, the first genuine smile I'd smiled all week even if it was only for a brief second. He tackled me in a bone crushing hug and I squeezed him back just as hard. Since when had Will been one to show excitement or joy? Still, I was happy to see him this way, it showed his real age rather than the experienced outlaw that I'd grown accustomed to seeing him as. "You were gone longer than you said." He spoke as we broke apart.

"There were complications." I shrugged as if it were nothing but internally flinched. Will must've seen something in my eyes because he frowned and glanced at Allan. Was I really so obvious?

"Good to have you back, Clara," John stated gruffly, hiding a smile, as I embraced him as well.

"Good to be back." They had no idea how true that statement really was.

"Clara! Finally, you have no idea how hard it was to keep these men in line." I turned to greet a laughing Djaq with a hug.

"Oh, they weren't too bad, were they?" I eyed Will, Allan, and John with mock suspicion.

"Not bad?" Much puffed indignantly, entering camp. "Try cleaning up after them. And not only that, but washing too!" I hugged Much as well with a slight grin. Where could he have gone off too? The sound of galloping answered my silent question before I could voice it.

However when Robin entered camp, there was not one rider, but two. I frowned slightly at the red haired man. Had the outlaws gained a new merry men while I left? I tried to stifle the small twinge of betrayal I felt. I was probably being ridiculous.

"So, the queen of Sherwood returns," Robin laughed, as he dismounted and bowed to me. "My lady." I rolled my eyes, but couldn't help the small, stubborn grin that forced it's way onto my lips.

"I think you mean Queens of Sherwood," I corrected him, resting my elbow on Djaq's shoulder.

"Of course, forgive me, your highnesses." Usually I would've laughed, but I couldn't even bring myself to fake one. I hated fake laughing anyway. Instead, I settled for a small smile and a hug for Robin.

"So who is this?" I questioned, looking up at the second rider, who dismounted slowly. My joking demeanor dropped when I noted his stiff movements and haunted eyes. He was a crusader. Most likely a captured crusader who had been tortured. I would know that look anywhere on anyone. I'd fought alongside too many men in the Holy Land and other battlefields not to know that look.

"He's been tortured." I whispered, not realizing I'd interrupted Robin's explanation of where he'd found the man. There was silence for a moment, and I snapped back to the present.

"So Master, forgive me, but you found him trying to burn a church, yet you saved him and not the church." Much asked indignantly, breaking the silence that was quickly becoming awkward.

"Because I could not fit the church on my horse," Robin stated in a slightly annoyed tone of voice. Will came forward and pulled back his color to reveal strange tattoos on the man's chest. Except they weren't' strange. I knew them. Or rather I'd seen them before, I didn't really know what they meant. Only that the bearers brought misery and destruction.

"What are they?" Will asked as Allan came up next to me and Will as John went to stand on the other side of Djaq.

"These look like eastern symbols." Robin mused. "Djaq!" He called to the saracen woman, who came over to study the symbols as well. "Do these mean anything to you?" She cautiously pulled back his shirt to reveal more of his chest covered in the strange markings.

"I don't know." She said hesitantly, pulling back and releasing his shirt. "It could be some sort of code." She added, her eyes flicking back up to the man distrustfully.

"Strange. He fought like a crusader back at Locksley." Robin mused out loud, studying the man further.

"Yeah, on the wrong side, by the looks of him," Will added, all the merriment from earlier was gone, replaced with a stoic expression.

"No, he definitely went out with King Richard. He's beyond sides now," Robin stated, fingering the simple, silver cross hanging from a leather cord around the man's neck. "War has turned his mind."

"Crusader's sickness." Much muttered and I felt almost sorry for the ghost of a man that stood in front of us, not flinching at our probing gazes.

"And there'll be thousands more like him while the war drags on. He needs care." Robin stated, looking directly at Much beside him. "Much, you need to look after him." I could feel Allan holding in a laugh as Much started shaking his head.

"Oh, no. Master." He started, seeing if Robin was serious. I listened to him start to whine, but couldn't seem to tear my eyes from the shell that stood there. "Master, please. I mean, look at him. Surely-"

"Well, you looked after me all these years." Robin argued.

"Yeah, but he's a menace." Allan pointed out, making me shift away from him and closer to Will. I had been a bit like this once. Never this far gone, but cold and detached. Much, Robin and the others in the King's guard had brought me back. Maybe I could do that for another person.

"Yes!" Much readily agreed with Allan. "You know, I think that's the first time we've actually agreed on something." Much pointed out, looking at Allan. "He's been burning down churches and fouling wells."

"I'll do it." I hadn't even realized I'd spoken until I became aware everyone was looking at me, but I didn't take my eyes off of the ginger man in front of us.

"Are you sure?" Robin asked uncertainly.

"Yeah, I mean, look at him." Allan disagreed with my statement. "He's a liability. He could turn on us!"

"No, he won't." I wasn't sure how I knew, but I did. I slowly reached out my hand to him, ignoring Allan and Will's small attempts to stop me. The man looked at my hand and back at me, but did nothing. I withdrew my hand and tore my gaze away from him to look at Robin. "Yes. I'm sure."

"Fine." Robin finally allowed.

"What?" Allan protested. "How are you meant to look after a deranged heretic?" I gazed into his dark eyes and a small frown pulled at my lips.

"Maybe by not calling him a deranged heretic." I suggested, causing Robin to let out a small laugh. The other outlaws dispersed, and I slowly reached for the man's wrist. He allowed me to take his wrist and guide him to a nearby log where I seated him and then proceeded to study him more closely. Will's shout brought me out of my mental analysis as he came rushing into camp talking about a carriage like no other.

I decided to stay in camp with Djaq as the men minus Much went out to investigate the carriage. Snapping in front of his face didn't even get this new visitor to blink. Snapping in front of his ears got even less of a response. He allowed me to touch him without protesting, even when I pinched him lightly. I drew back my hand to slap him across the face, but his hand came up and caught my wrist before my hand could make contact.

"No." It was only one small word, but it was progress. His voice was deep and gruff, and the weight of a thousand lives and a thousand bloody deaths seemed to be trapped in that one small word.

"What is your name?" I questioned him, never breaking eye contact. His head turned to fully look at me, but he didn't seem to be seeing me. After it became apparent I would get no reply I tried a different strategy. "Much pass me some carrots." He handed them over, eager to get help with the stew. I turned back to the man and pulled out two of my knives. "We'll try cooking. Okay? Everyone can be good at cooking. Just look at Much."

"Hey!" Much snapped from across the fire. "I heard that." I ignored him and handed one knife to the stranger and kept one for myself.

"Not cooking knife." My gaze snapped up to the man as he spoke in the same hard tone as earlier. Much hesitantly handed me some more of his raw materials.

"Well, yea, but we'll make it work." I answered even though he hadn't really asked a question. "This is pork, carrots, onions, parsnips." I pointed out the different foods to him, but he never glanced down, instead choosing to stare at me instead, giving me a slightly creeped out feeling. "This isn't actually a stew, you know. What do you call it again, Much?"

"The Much Touch." He answered promptly and proudly while I hid my small smile that turned into a sad frown. I blinked it away and returned to the ingredients.

"It's not actually his invention. You take the ingredients and skewer them on a stick, or broken arrow, and then cook them. I've seen it before when I was in Cyprus." I handed him the broken arrow with the ingredients stuck on. I racked my brain for the name. "I think they called it -"

"Shishkebabi." The man spoke, causing both me and Much to glance at him interestedly.

"You've had one then? They're very good."

"Are you sure it's a good idea to give him the knife?" Djaq asked from behind me, but I squashed the seed of doubt that sprung into my mind. Much, however, froze in his cooking to glance up at me and start for the stranger. I put my arm across his chest, barring his way and shook my head.

"He has a name," I answered her in annoyance. "His name is…" I paused for a moment. "Harold." I finally spoke, looking at him and smiling slightly. "He's called Harold."

"Maybe this is his true calling," Much stated, watching Harold chop up the carrot. "His new life. Y'know I've often thought a man could make a good living doing this. Get himself a cart, wheel it up to the alehouse of an evening, set out his wares. Some of these, bit of stew, meat pies."

"Yeah," I added, a bit distracted as I started to hear voices up the hill. "You could make a killing…" I trailed off as the rest of the gang burst into camp, arguing heatedly.

"Well, you said he was always drunk, your cousin," Will was arguing with Allan. I'd rather hoped they would've made up by the time I'd got back.

"Well he is, but still." Allan admitted, but held firm.

"Another mouth for dinner," Robin stated. I glanced up and jumped a bit at the hideous mask that Robin dangled in front of me. My reaction was little compared to Much's scream as he scrambled away. "Not you as well." Robin groaned.

"What is that?" Much asked, pointing to it with his broken arrow.

"Put it this way, I would not like to be on the receiving end of this." Robin muttered, studying the mask.

"Look like it's for torture." I disagreed with Much there. Something told me it wasn't for torture. It didn't look like the usual instruments.

"Whatever it is, that is not christian." I definitely agreed with Allan. "Don't do that," Allan protested as Robin played with the needles sticking out of the mask. "You might cause plagues of Locusts." I rolled my eyes at his superstition.

"Yea and the water might boil and the heaven's will shake." I added sarcastically causing Robin to give me an amused smile.

"I'm serious! Rivers of blood!" Allan went on.

"What?" Robin exclaimed incredulously.

"Our friends are convinced a Master of the Dark Arts is at the castle. Someone from the east to scare us, a bogeyman under the bed?"

"Robin, that's enough." I snapped, going to stand between Allan and Will. Making a joke was one thing, but one shouldn't laugh at someone else's beliefs.

"Oh, come on, Clara. Look! It's working already." He pushed the mask closer to us causing me to take a slight step back. Djaq pushed her way between us and took the mask from Robin.

"Something this grotesque can not be for good." She mused out loud. A ululating scream snapped my attention to Harold just in time to see him rush at Djaq. I sprinted towards her, pushing her out of the way and causing Harold to grab me instead and press my own knife against my throat. When I'd seen Harold start towards Djaq with a murderous glint in his eye, I'd thought I could handle him. What I didn't expect was my muscles to lock. My mind and soul seemed to freeze at once.

"Saracen evil." He practically growled. I was dimly aware of my hands beginning to shake, and I wished I hadn't dropped the twin knife when I'd pushed Djaq. I took shaky breaths and saw that Will, Allan, and Robin had all drawn their swords, but there was no sign of John. That was good, right?

"Harold, calm down!" Much tried to reason with the crazed man.

"Torture." He growled and that word cut through my terrified fog and forced me to focus on him.

"I know. I know they tortured you, and it's okay. You're not there anymore. Listen, just-" that's when John hit the man over the head with a rock, sending him to the ground, knocked out. I stumbled forward as his weight suddenly collapsed on my back, forcing me to a kneeling position on the ground. I was quickly met with a concerned Allan and Will.

"Are you hurt?" Allan. I shook my head mutely and laced my shaking hand through his tightly, fighting back the fear. I'd never been scared like this before. Not even when I was little. Why now?

"Are you sure? What happened?" I knew Will's words held a double meaning, but I just continued to shake my head and grabbed Will's hand as well as they both helped me up. I had stopped shaking and was calming down now. I looked up to see all the outlaws were looking at me, so I quickly muttered something about checking the traps and hurriedly left.

I didn't even realize I was running until I stopped, taking shaky breaths and leaned one arm against a tree, resting my forehead against the rough bark. I had frozen. Why the Hell had I frozen? I'd never, NEVER frozen before. So why now? It was just so similar to Kelsey. Even thinking her name brought angry tears to my eyes. I had trusted the stranger. And he'd almost killed me. I'd trusted Kelsey and she tried to kill me too. I blinked away the tears and forced myself to swallow painfully around the lump in my throat. Footsteps sounded along the path I'd come from and I blinked more forcibly, turning away from whoever was there.

"Clara?" I started to walk away only to have him catch my wrist and turn me around. "Clara look at me." Will's image was slightly blurred as I met his dark eyes with my shimmering, emerald ones. "What happened?" And just like that all the fight went out of me and I rested my back against the tree and slid down it until I was sitting on the leafy ground.

"It's a long story." I warned him. I don't think I could've stopped myself from telling him if I tried.

"I'm listening," I didn't doubt that he was, but I didn't look to make sure. I couldn't look at him. Instead, I chose to fix my eyes on the green leaves above us and the small streams of sunlight that shown through them. All these secrets were built up inside of me like water behind a dam, and just like that, the dam broke and everything came flooding out. I told him about my sisters and mother and father. I talked about training and my 'friends'. I mentioned the Holy Land and why I went. I described my years of traveling with Victoria as a spy. I showed him the bruise on my stomach from being thrown to the floor by Kelsey. All the while I didn't look at him; I was afraid too. Afraid that if I looked at him, he wouldn't be there anymore. At the same time I was afraid he would be there, disgusted by my hideous past. I had finished my story, but I just kept gazing up at the trees, afraid of making any more sound. The silence was peaceful and complete, so complete that I was sure he had left somewhere during my story. FInally, I couldn't stand it any longer and looked at him to find him studying me intently.

"I'm sorry." It seemed like a fitting end to my tale. Someone should know how sorry I was. Someone should realize that I would take every single action back if I could. I would save every live I helped to destroy. My words echoed around the clearing and seemed to bounce back at me and ring in my ears. I couldn't seem to tear my eyes away from his. He was sitting next to me now; I'm not sure when that had happened, probably when I started telling him my story. His face was inches away from mine and his dark eyes seemed to be looking right into my soul. "Say something," I begged him in a whisper. I had never begged for anything before in my life. I never had to. Anything I needed I either had or could get. But here I was, and I needed Will to say something. Anything.

"You survived." That was not what I had expected him to say. I had expected him to run or yell, or tell me I was worthless.

"I shouldn't have." I whispered, finally able to break eye contact and look down at my hands.

"Don't say that." I glanced up at his forceful words. "Don't you dare say that. You're the bravest, most beautiful woman I've ever met." He slowly leaned toward me and I stayed frozen. His warm lips brushed mine, and I snapped out of it, pulling away quickly. It's easy to kiss someone when it means nothing. If your just using them to get what you want, but I couldn't kiss Will. Partly because I was terrified it would mean something, and where would that leave me. Will was looking at me now with a mixture of hurt, anger and a sad understanding. "Is it Allan?"

"It's not just him, Will."

"Clara." I looked up at him and sighed, nodding.

"I'm sorry." He abruptly stood.

"We should get back to camp." I stood quickly.

"Will," I started, but he was already gone. Slowly, I made my way back to camp. How could I have been so stupid? Never let anyone get close enough to hurt you. It was rule number one, and I had broken it. When I arrived back, the only people there were Djaq, Much, Harold, Allan, and John, who was sitting under a painted white cross. T

"There you are! I've looked everywhere!" Allan exclaimed.

"Yeah, well, I'm flattered, really." I strode over to Much, who was sitting by a makeshift cell with Harold inside. I knelt by the wooden cell just as a crow brought Harold gasping awake. "Hey." I spoke softly to him. "Don't worry," I went on as I saw him look at the wood suspiciously. "It's for your own protection." Much let out a sarcastic snort from behind me.

"She means ours, really." I glanced behind me and fixed Much with a look.

"What did I do this time?" Harold asked with a sense of dread, regaining my attention.

"Oh, let's just say you ruined the Kebabs." If I hadn't been having such a horrendous day, I probably would have laughed, but as it was I couldn't even manage a smile.

"You don't have to lie to me." Harold snapped.

"You tried to kill Djaq because she's a Saracen, but Clara got in the way. You could've killed her." Much told him, and I flinched, causing Harold to fix his eyes on me. "Which I may say is odd, considering five minutes ago you were going to burn down a Christian church. I mean, come on. Make your mind up."

"The Saracen! Beware the Saracen." Harold warned us earnestly. "The Saracen destroys everything in your mind."

"Calm down and listen." I spoke softly, but it seemed to work. "Djaq is one of us, alright? Do you know when the turns are going to happen?" I switched the topic of discussion.

"Anything can start it. I'm watching a child fishing in a stream. And suddenly I'm looking in the water."

"The water's full of bodies." Much finished for him, coming to crouch beside me.

"Drowned. Left to rot." I added solemnly.

"So you both know?" He questioned almost hopefully.

"Where were you?" Much asked him softly.

"Nicaea. Tripoli. Pelagonia."

"We were at Acre." Harold's eyes snapped to us.

"You must get the dreams." He whispered and Much and I nodded.

"Of course," Much replied. "It's our punishment," I glanced at Much, never having heard him utter words so dark. "All this fuss over a painted mask. Come on, you're not an animal." He started to undo the cage and I stopped him just as Harold yelled, "No,"

"It's better this way," I whispered, looking at Harold.

"Better for whom?" Much snapped.

"She's right," Harold spoke softly, holding two fingers to his head and resting it on a wooden beam, turning away from us.

"Stranger on the move!" Will yelled, running into camp, causing everyone including me to jump to their feet. "Out of the castle!"

"What kind of stranger?" I grabbed my cloak and tied it quickly, grabbing my double swords and attaching them to my back.

"Saracen." Will informed us as I went up between Allan and Djaq with a slight smile. Time for some action where I could prove I wasn't just dead weight since I'd gotten back.

"There's our friend," Allan announced jokingly.

"I think we ought to give him a proper greeting," I agreed, and Allan beamed at me, slightly relieved.

"Well, we could be attacked by spirits at any moment," Robin joined in the joking, turning to John.

"Rode out at dawn, with Gisborne and his troops." Will told us.

"Which way was he heading?" Djaq questioned.

"This way," Will answered, avoiding my eyes and instead looking directly at Djaq. "This way, into the forest."

"We've got to smash up that thing." Allan stated insistently. "It could draw them towards us."

"Nothing is going to draw anybody anywhere."

"That carriage might." I spoke up, drawing the outlaw's attention. "If he is the visitor then I'd bet you twenty pounds he's out looking for his carriage." Robin pointed one finger at me with a slight smile.

"Clara's right. Now let's go and see who he is, shall we?" Robin glanced at John, who was cowering with his back against the tree. "Come on, John. Come and face your fear!" Then he walked closer to him. "It's all right, John."

"We are taking on the forces of darkness and we'll be all right?" Allan questioned incredulously.

"The only forces of darkness are your own fear. I say we go meet our guest." I announced, walking slightly forward to stand by a very annoyed Robin. "It's only a Saracen man."

"Thank you!" Robin glanced gratefully at me. "Now listen to me, this is what we are going to do."

A couple minutes later Robin and I were crouching behind a wagon waiting for the Saracen man, who was on top to get close enough to be able to trip. Allan and Will were waiting further up the hill behind trees with bows at the ready. I heard Gisborne mutter something in a snide voice and looked up to see the boot of the man just peaking over the edge of the carriage. Having a sudden idea, I grasped the small end of the boot and yanked downward. The man gave out a yell and fell in front of us.

"Now we can do this my way, or you can turn me into a frog." I glanced at Robin to make sure he hadn't lost his mind. Maybe I shouldn't have left for so long.

"What?" The man asked confusedly, eyes flicking to me for a moment. I offered him a small shrug and before running up the hill to where Allan and Will were crouched behind a tree. Guy screamed and hit his sword against the carriage in rage while Robin disappeared with the stranger. Allan put a hand to his mouth and kissed it grandly before I grabbed his arm and pulled him away from the scene, grinning at his antics. We followed Robin and the stranger into camp. Robin pushed the fancily dressed stranger in front of John, making him jump.

"So, tell me John. What is so powerful about him." Suddenly Djaq bowed and they conversed in rapid Turkish for a moment.

"At least one of you know how to show respect." The man told Robin.

"What are you doing?" Djaq hissed. "This man is Prince Malik Al-Ayyubi Ibn Chathi" She spoke, and I turned to look at the prince again, giving a small gasp of surprise. Robin glanced at me and then back to Djaq. "Nephew of Salah Al-Din! I served under him."

"The Salah Al-Din?" I rolled my eyes at Much's question.

"No, the Salah Al-Din that works in the bakery down the road," I quipped sarcastically, grinning at Allan's snicker and ignoring Djaq and Much's glare.

"Oops." Allan whispered in my ear, making me shiver slightly causing him to laugh.

"He is royalty, bow down to him." Djaq told us matter-of-factly.

"Nobody bows down to anybody." Robin snapped, roughly picking Djaq up and placing her back on her feet. "Not in this forest. John?" and then ignoring Djaq's protests, John and Robin dragged the prince to the mask. "Come and say hello."

"You, I do not like." John growled out.

"My friends would like to know about this mask." Robin told him roughly.

"What have you done to it?" The prince asked in horror. "I can not present it now!"

"That's a gift?" Much inquired incredulously from behind me.

"It was. A peace offering."

"Peace?" Allan asked skeptically from beside me. "Let's stick needles in his head, see how he likes it." The prince turned to Robin with a look of scorn.

"This is what happens when cousins marry." I bit back a smile and looked away from Allan. "This is a model for teaching. Needles, placed correctly on parts of the body, can cure all sorts of ailments."

"Sounds like dodgy magic to me,"

"This is science, not magic." The Prince told Allan distastefully.

"Could it cure crusader's sickness?" I asked the man, glancing at Harold's sleeping form.

"Yes, I could try if you like."

"What, so you're a physician, then?" Allan asked.

"You see, John. A physician." Robin emphasized to him. "That's all,"

"I'm not physician. I'm an ambassador." Oh, boy. We all know how much the Sheriff loves those. "This gift for Prince John is a gift of healing. To celebrate our new peace treaty."

"Prince John wants peace?" Robin inquired skeptically.

"I want peace." The Prince corrected. "The holy lands are drenched in blood. Thousands of men die on both sides. This is not the will of Allah, it is the duty of all good men to put an end to this barbarity. So I come to negotiate with prince John and the Sheriff."

"If you really want peace in the Holy Land, then Prince John and the Sheriff are the last people you should be speaking to. Whatever they have told you is a lie."

"And how can I believe what you say? You and your band of superstitious, ignorant outlaws?" They started forward and I put a arm in front of them to stop them. "Now I demand, you let me go."

"I'm not being funny, mate, we've just only caught you." Allan spoke up.

"Let me go, or let the blood of thousands be on your conscience." The prince practically begged Robin. Robin let him go, but told him to be careful and I bit my lip to hold in a protest. Something was very, extremely wrong. Allan and Robin left to greet Marian, leaving Djaq, John, Much, Will, and me in camp. I left camp to do a quick scout, but it was more for my own benefit to not feel useless. There was odd music to my left and I followed the sound to the edge of a small ledge only to see four women in odd, Saracen attire doing a small dance. Something was very, wrong. I felt it in my stomach. Slowly, I backed away from the edge only to bump into someone, who quickly covered my mouth. I froze for fear of making any noise if I fought and notifying the assassins. That's what they were. I could see it on them. I just knew.

"It's me," Will whispered softly in my ear, making me breathe a small sigh of relief.

"Don't do that," I chided him softly, but I was glad he at least talked to me. When I turned around, however, his face was stony and void. I flinched.

"I'm sorry." I whispered and he just looked at me so I continued softly. "I found something that Robin needs to see."

"What do I need to see?" Robin asked, appearing behind Will with Djaq in tow. I led him to the ledge and crouched down in front of Will and beside Robin as Allan came up on my other side.

"Allan?" Robin asked jokingly, gesturing to the ladies. I felt a slight twinge, but I pushed it down.

"That doesn't look like a ransom," He spoke grinning.

"It's not." I couldn't keep the edge out of my voice as I spoke. "They're assassins." Some of the boys let out soft laughs.

"Assassins? Flags of safe passage, women to show good faith."

"Robin, I think Clara's right. Muslims are forbidden to worship human images."

"I'm not surprised. It's hardly a masterpiece, is it?"

"They're assassins." I hissed again, more forcefully earning a couple of looks.

"I think they might be the Aljuj-an," Djaq told us.

"Salah Al-Din's assassination squad." The boys snickered again, and I glared harshly at them.

"Only one of them is armed." That was a lie. "And that chest of money could feed a lot of mouths. Let's take it."

"Robin! No!" Djaq protested, and I rolled my eyes at the men. I grabbed a fistful of Robin's sleeve in one hand and a fistful of Allan's in the other and pulled them down from getting up causing everyone to look at me like I'd lost my mind.

"Robin. They. Are." I began very slowly, annunciating every syllable clearly. The leader chose that moment to clap and all the woman threw their throwing stars at the target, all hitting the bulls eye perfectly. "Assassins." I finished unnecessarily.

"That's not worship. That's target practice." Will muttered, finally realizing what we were facing.

"You're not listening to us because we are women. Don't make the same mistake with them."

"I'm all ears." I stood abruptly and stalked back to camp with the outlaws on my heels. "The Prince thinks he's here to negotiate peace." Robin began and we all listened to him as he worked out everything. I sat on a log with Djaq, who at present was the only one who I wasn't annoyed with or who didn't hate me. "And the Sheriff thinks a ransom is on its way, but neither of them know that Salah Al-Din has sent assassins instead. So-"

"So we stay here and do nothing." Much finished causing me to glance at him sharply. "You let this Al-Fajanis kill the Sheriff and rescue the Prince."

"That sounds good to me." Allan agreed.

"No." I spoke up and the boys looked to me and Djaq, but I was gazing at the fire and didn't look up.

"The Aljuj-an do not rescue." Djaq explained for me. "They're killers. That's what they do. Kill or die in the attempt."

"Well, if they're not going to rescue the prince, then what are they doing here?" Much questioned, still not grasping it.

"They're here to kill the prince." Robin caught on.

"Why would Salah Al-Din want to kill his own nephew?" Much asked.

"A nephew that wants peace at any costs. Salah Al-Din wants a fair deal."

"So why send him over here in the first place?"

"He didn't." I answered Will's question. "He came on his own."

"We have to rescue the prince." Robin announced.

"We tried that before. He doesn't want to know." Will argued.

"War in the Holy Land is 2,000 miles away. It's not our problem."

"No, Allan, you're wrong. War is here. It's right here in the forest." Robin gestured to Harold to prove his point. "He was an ordinary englishman. He tilled the fields. He loved his wife. He cared for his children."

"He's not married." Allan pointed out.

"It's an example, Dunderhead." Much snapped.

"Then he was forced to go to the Holy Land to fight. Look at him! A pitiful shadow of a man. Every day, good men like Harold are destroyed out there. Only peace can put a stop to this."

"Who are you calling pitiful?" Harold asked, causing everyone to look at him. "You run from woman." I bit back a smile.

"You know about them?" Robin questioned.

"I know which part of hell the Aljuj-an come from." He pointed to his head. "In here."

"They're the ones who did this to you?" Much asked.

"Does anyone else know what these two are talking about?" Allan questioned, and I glanced at him.

"Torture. They're the one's who tortured you. Made you kill." I spoke softly, coming towards him a little. He kicked off the tree to stand firmly and looked down at Allan then at his bound hands. He breathed deeply and snapped the rope. Allan instinctively wrapped one arm around my waist and backed up a step, pulling me behind him. I glanced at him in surprise, and he quickly let go, but no one had seen they were all to focused on a sitting Harold.

"That's what we're talking about." He told Allan, and I hid a small smile.

We rushed to the castle as fast as the horses would go (which was surprisingly fast when you really urged them). Once we entered the gate and passed the nonexistent guards. We found the Sheriff about to be killed by a Saracen, which Robin promptly put an arrow through. I had my double swords out and one was currently at the Sheriff's neck.

"Where's the prince?" Robin asked calmly.

"Forget him," The Sheriff stammered. "You stay here and protect me," I rolled my eyes and his weakness. All the outlaws pointed their weapons at his neck. "I'll give you your prince."

"Where?"

"In the hall," The sheriff answered promptly. Robin nodded to us and we started to pass the Sheriff but I hesitated and turned back to Robin, wondering if it wasn't a good idea for me to stay and protect the Sheriff just in case. I was the only one out of the outlaws who could take on all four assassins. Well, for a while anyway.

"Come on," Allan hissed, tugging my arm.

"Go, I'll be right behind you." I told him, and he hesitantly started leaving.

"Will, get the horses to the East Gate. We'll get Malik." Robin nodded to me, and I started to go, but Will grabbed my arm. I turned back to him for a moment.

"Be careful." He whispered, and I threw my arms around him and hugged him. I really thought I was going to loose him.

"I thought you hated me." I whispered to him.

"I don't think that I could, even if I tried." I released him hurried down the hallway toward the hall, meeting Allan halfway. We burst into the great hall and the guards yelled to get us.

"Forget us! Watch the entrance." Robin yelled back as we passed them.

"The Sheriff's with us?" Much chose that moment for a reflective comment.

"Did no one ever tell you that fools do not deserve to be rescued?"

"Lucky for you, we chose not to listen." I humored him. It helps the nerves. I'd learned it a while ago while I was still working jobs for mother.

"La di-da-di-da Will you two just shut up!" The Sheriff snapped, pacing the room. Robin stood by Malik while I paced in front of them. There was the sounds of metal and men screaming and then nothing.

"Here they come," I told the others, gripping my swords tightly and swinging them in deadly arcs to warm up my wrists. I took deep calming breaths and glanced at Allan who stood pacing slightly a little ways behind me, and was surprised to find he was looking at me. I offered him a small reassuring smile.

"Get behind me." Robin ordered and Allan grabbed my waist for the second time in the past hour to pull me behind him. Surprisingly a small smile crept onto my face.

"Do you have any ideas?" The Sheriff asked hopefully.

"Much, Djaq, John, over there." Robin ordered. "Allan, Clara, Vaisley with me."

"Me?" The Sheriff whined, making me grab his arm and push him over to Robin a little rougher than necessary.

"Do it or we die." I glanced at Robin and then at Allan's nervous face. We were not going to die. The door swung open and the assassins stepped through, sweeping the cloth out of their face and taking off their decretory garments and rushing down the stairs.

"Oi!" John yelled, hitting the ground with his staff. "Come on, then!"

"Ready?" Robin asked and I took a deep breath, slipping into a different state of mind. "Now!" We attacked. We were loosing badly, but they couldn't kill any of us because by the time they kicked one another was already in his place, fighting. I slammed my foot into one's stomach, sending her sprawling, but another fought me while she leapt to her feet. They were highly skilled, but not skilled enough.

"I hate this! This isn't much fun at all!" The Sheriff yelled. There was another yell and the women stopped attacking. There, jumping over the railing and landing in the middle of the assassins, was a shirtless Harold.

"Get Malik out now!" He yelled and we quickly started doing as he said.

"John! Take him!" I yelled as I saw Allan and Robin having trouble protecting the Sheriff while Harold counted off his kills. I rushed towards them as she kicked them down. I lifted my weapons a second too slow and she kicked them out of my hands and drew back a blade to finish me.

"No!" I heard multiple yells and I couldn't pick them apart. I could tell one had been Allan, and another one sounded like Much, but I couldn't be sure. Everything happened in slow motion. The blade came towards me, I spun out of the way, grabbing her wrist as the second blade snaked toward my stomach. I pushed her wrist across her body, turning her and sinking my small dagger into her chest.

"Four." I finished for Harold, dropping the limp body while the other outlaws looked at me in something like awe and relief. I helped a shaky Allan to his feet and found Robin was already standing at the bottom of the staircase with the others.

"Get him, Prince Bismillah, far away from here." The Sheriff spat in disgust.

"The feeling is mutual." The Prince replied calmly with a tinge of disgust.

"And Locksley, remember, business as usual tomorrow." The Sheriff added, causing me to smile slightly.

"I'll look forward to it." Robin told him as we left.

"And you've never done this before?" Robin asked for the hundredth time. We were all gathered around as the Prince took out the needles of the healing mask that Harold wore.

"I have studied the theory."

"Will it work?"

"Ask him yourself." The Prince replied to Much's question with a shrug.

"How do you feel?" I asked him.

"It doesn't feel bad. It's been a long time since I could say that."

"How long will the needles have to stay in?" Djaq questioned.

"Of that I am not certain. I will send more instructions once I have reached Jerusalem."

"No need. I'll come with you. See you safe." Harold had already made up his mind.

"You're gonna go back there?" Much asked incredulously.

"No true peace in here, till there's peace out there."

"I'm afraid your hopes for peace may be in vain."

"Not so, think about it my friend." The Prince told Robin. "Salah Al-Din sends his finest soldiers to kill me, yet I survive. It is the will of Allah. Allah wills peace. Salah Al-Din may be ruthless, but he is also a good muslim and even he must follow the will of Allah."

It was night when they finally set off. I had already wished them good luck and said my good byes so I sat by Allan, waiting for sleep to take me. I had hoped Harold would want to stay and join the merry band, for that's what I'd begun to call us in my mind. He'd have been welcome, of course and he definitely would've been an asset, but each to his own I guess.

"He killed them," I hadn't realized I'd whispered the words aloud until I heard Allan shift to look at me. I was just like those girls, and I could be killed just as easily as they had been.

"They deserved it," He muttered almost angrily and then in a much softer voice, "I thought she was going to kill you."

"Have a little faith, Allan." My mouth tugged up in a small smile, which turned into a sad frown. "I can't be killed that easily." Then, I rested my head on his shoulder and closed my eyes.