NOTTINGHAM CASTLE

"Oh well done Gizzy."

Vaisey's sarcastic sneer went down to Guy who was stood before him, his leg bandaged from Isabella's injury, as scarred as his pride.

The Sheriff lounged in his wooden throne of a chair.

"You let her escape!" Vaisey stood up furiously, "Your level of incompetence never ceases to amaze me."

Guy turned his face away.

"Do you want Prince John to execute us?" Vaisey demanded and stormed over to the man.

Guy glared down at him, "of course not."

"Then I suggest you look at the bigger picture." Vaisey hissed furiously.

The doors opened and Blamire came in, shadowed by another man.

"My lord." Blamire announced, "An emissary from Prince John."

Vaisey head snapped around as did Guisborne's.

The messenger unfolded his proclamation almost and spoke in a loud clear voice.

"His royal highness, prince regent of England, John, is due to leave for Nottingham on Saturday."

THE OUTLAWS CAMP

"Well all's well that ends well hey?" Alan said as he fiddled with his stew, taking bits on his spoon before letting the suspicious looking meat from back in the bowl.

The gang including archer were sat around the fire, leaning against logs as they ate.

Alan and Archer had no stomach for it though, and their headaches were only just beginning to disappear.

"Is it usually this life threatening for you all the time?" Archer asked and looked to Robin, who had his arm leant over Marianas shoulders, her leaning on him while he leant back against the log Much was sitting on.

"What do you mean?" Much asked.

"Well." Archer shrugged, "Since I have known you all you've been chased and captured none stop, we have all nearly died…"

"That trap in the tunnel was unbelievable." Much muttered, still recalling the falling limestone and how it had felt on his body.

Marian almost snuggled closer to Robin, as if making sure that he was really there with her.

His fingers ran through the back of her hair.

"Those stones…" John shook his head.

Marian stood with her bowl and walked over to the table to wash it up.

She caught sight of Archers belongings laying on the bunk beside it, and the purple draw string bag in its mist made her reach for it.

She turned it upside down while the conversation around the fire continued, and several silver coins fell into her palm, with more still inside.

She gasped.

Robin looked up, "Marian?"

She turned to face them with the bag in her hand.

She moved one coin to hold it between her thumb and forefinger.

It glinted in the light while she glared at Archer.

He stiffened.

"Where did you get this from?" She demanded.

Archer stood as did Robin.

He walked over to his wife.

She moved past him to shove the coins and money at Archer.

"Well?" She demanded.

Everyone was sharing confused looks now.

Archer stiffened, "It is my money, the little possessions I came to Nottingham with Tuck with…"

"No." Marian shook her head furiously, her hands balled into fists at her side in anger and she glared at him furiously.

"That money." She pointed at the bag in Archer's hands, "Comes from the safe in my old room at the castle."

Robin's eyes narrowed.

Archer knew he had been caught out, but did not show it on his face.
"There is only one person who sleeps in that room now." Marian hissed.

"What did Isabella pay you for Archer?"

He said nothing, what could he say?

Much was upright now, and the gang were quickly moving to stand near Robin.

The gang were all together, with Marian facing Archer furiously a little way before them.

"Isabella!" Much cried.

Archer lifted his eyes as Marian rippled with anger.

"It's not as though you don't all know anyway." He raised both eyebrows.

Robin took a step forwards at him speaking over his wife that way.

Marians hand snapped backwards, palm up, to stop Robin from moving.

She glared furiously at Archer.

"Do not talk as though I am not standing rightin front of you."

Archer glared back at her.

"Why don't you tell them all then?" He sneered at Marian, "If you are so clever and already know the answer?"

Her eyes sparked.

"You were the one who trapped the tunnel weren't you?" She demanded coldly, "That's how you knew where they were when you came to tell me… Isabella paid you to kill Robin and the others didn't she?"

Archer sniffed angrily.

"Yes."

"What!" Much and John shouted together and Robins eyes grew wide in fury.

"Argh."

Marian let out a cry of anger and slammed her palm against Archers face in a resonating slap.

Archer took in a deep and angry breath.

"We took you in." She was furious, "We treated you as one of the gang, you helped save all our lives to fight against the Sheriff, you came with Tuck from Loughborough!"

"Don't lecture me on who I fight for." Archer snapped at her.
"I fight for myself to survive."

"And what about the men who would have died, if your guilt hadn't made you release them?" She demanded, "Much, John and Rob…."

Her voice cracked angrily and she swallowed.

"And all the people who would die if Robin Hood had been lost…"

Archer leant closer to her, "and what about all those people who will have died because they listened to the word of Robin Hood… all those villagers who die trying to be brave like you… children who perish."

"Argh." Marian threw herself at him.

Robin shot forwards and grabbed her around the waist locking his arms around her as she struggled and reached to grab at Archer.

"Let go of me." She struggled.

Despite all their anger, and Tuck his disappointment, the gang stayed where they were.

Robin was almost wrestling with Marian.
"Stop." He shook her, "stop it."

She glared and gasped furiously at Archer and Robin lifted his head to do the same.

"How did you get Isabella to trust you?" He demanded, "She had seen you under the church with us when she poisoned me."

"I told her something she would have heard from nothing else."

What did archer have to lose now, he wasn't welcome here anymore.

It was fine, he was used to it.

He knew the only one he could trust was himself.

"She and Guisborne are my half brother and sister, although he does not know it yet."

There was silence for a moment and Robin was frozen in shock.

Marian used this and her fury to wrench herself from Robins arms and leap Archer.

She tackled him to the ground and slammed her fist against his face.

Archers mind went Black.