"You're alive," I said.

No one else knew what to say.

Robin raised his arm, gesturing for a hug.

I punched him.

It seemed right at the time.

It was inevitable. After the happy realisation stage came the anger and the accusations.

"Don't we have a job to do?" Robin asked but he was not getting out that easy. Poor people paled in comparison to Robin coming back from the dead.

I had never seen the gang so mad. It wasn't only Robin they were angry at. Apparently Will knew about the whole thing and was getting just as much trouble. Finally Robin explained.

"Well, I figured we weren't getting anywhere on the taxes job and even our best plan ran with too many risks from the guards. Lets face it, there was a very high chance of not making it out of there. By faking my own death it meant that Prince John would take away his guards and we can practically walk in there. Also all his noble traitors will have heard and take it as chance to wear there finest jewels. Do you realise how much we are going to get from this job?"

I was very angry. "Why couldn't we be informed about this plan?"

"I was counting on your genuine reactions to trick Prince John?"

I was still angry. "Well, why couldn't Will inform us when we got back to camp?"

Robin shrugged "I wanted to know how you would all react if I died." It was more of a question then an answer. He was seeing if any of us would buy this answer.

"Oh no" I said, finally figuring it out "You were counting on our genuine reactions, but not for the sake of the Prince."

Robin shrugged again. "So how was Marian?"

Everyone hit him. He deserved it.

"Ok, Ok!" he yelled as he tried to fight everyone off. "We have poor people to save. I hope the plan is dramatic. I'll only get so many chances at coming back from the dead."

So we set off, everyone shooting Robin and Will evil glances all the way.

Luke, being the physician he was ran up to Robin, "So how exactly did you make yourself appear dead? Some magic potion?"

Robin laughed. "I'm not really sure. Its something Pete gave me."

"Of course. Only Pete would do something so mean. The bastard." Luke looked ready to kill his friend but wanted knowledge more at the current moment in time. "So what did he give you?"

"I'm not going to pretend to understand his medical language" Robin continued. "It was just something he told us to put on Gisbourne's dagger and we planted it in his room. I had to pose just right so he really didn't stab me somewhere lethal. He could have done to if he wasn't so angry, anger gives a man bad aim. Then Will was ready as I was counting on Allen to distract himself with Gisbourne to give me some more of Pete's concoction and pour fake blood on me to make it look worse."

Will got even more evil looks.

"Why did you trust Will so much?" I asked, trying to hide my hurt.

"Allen I was counting on your reaction" Robin told his friend. "Will wouldn't cry if I died."

"It's true," he agreed. "I don't cry."

"Well why not me?" Luke asked. "Surely I am more medically able then Will. What if Gisbourne had stabbed you fatally? Will would have been useless. And I didn't cry when you died."

"Wow" Robin said. "Insulting. Regardless of who I picked. Lets drop it for now and bring me back to life with a bang."

Prince John had decided to make his little taxes gathering a celebration. It had become any rich person who had grievance with Robin to come together and laugh at his murder. Annie was thoroughly enjoying herself, darting around telling anyone how she knew from the beginning what a complete idiot he was and saying how glad she was that he finally dropped dead. The sheriff was one of the only ones who wasn't happy. His job was in jeopardy. His right hand man did the job that no one else could. Gisbourne was in John's favour and he has barley spoken a word to the sheriff all day. Gisbourne has been relieved from any work for the time being. The sheriff has had to all his own dirty work and was clearly exhausted. There were rumours that Gisbourne was going to be knighted on that day. Annie kept telling Marian to be thrilled, being betrothed to a knight. Marian didn't listen and instead, had all exits in sight in case of an outbreak.

Prince John cleared his throat, prepared to say one of those 'inspirational' speeches and it was going to be long.

'Today, is a great day. For today we lose the thorn that has been in our side for these past two years."

"Has he forgotten that it happened yesterday?" Annie muttered.

"When someone is bitten by a snake, the poison must be sucked out. And so we my people must suck the poison out of our country."

"Oh dear. He's really going for the snake metaphor," Annie continued over hearing the people groaning.

"Hood may be dead but his warped ideas still remain. The few who follow him will fight. But do not fear, they shall be crushed in the same manner he was. This is England my friends. And under my rule, she shall flourish."

He was interrupted. No one couldn't believe it.

"Is anyone else bored by this speech?"

Everyone's eyes rose to the speaker and sure enough, Robin himself leapt down, alive as ever.

"You. But. What?" I think Prince John was about to faint as he sputtered out words, trying to find anything to say.

Robin leapt up beside the Prince and told him "that's right, I'm alive."

A few women in the crowd really did faint. I was too busy trying not to laugh at Annie's face. Guy had a very interesting look on his face. A perfect blend of horror and fury. Dare I say, the Sheriff smirked. His power was returned as well as his enemy, whom I feel he secretly enjoyed fighting. The other Normans all reacted with different variations of fear as they clung protectively to their elaborate jewels and other tidbits that would be soon snatched.

Robin ignored all the looks he was getting and continued "and it sure is a shame that you let all the guards go."

The few guards that had been told to remain finally showed up and Robin gave them one simple look. The look said 'do you really want to try. I just came back from the dead.' The guards all backed away slowly but ended up turning and sprinting away.

The rest of the gang finally turned up, weapons pointing at anyone who dared move in the crowd.

"It sure was nice of you all to have a party in my honour. And it sure was nice for you to all dress so nice. Lovely jewels everyone. Well, actually its downright insulting so for forgiveness, I think you can all donate all those lovely jewels to the poor on the streets that you all ignore."

With that he gave John a smug look and jumped down to begin his circulation.

Robin got to Gisbourne and Marian very fast.

"Well Gisbourne, what do you have to donate?"

Gisbourne leapt forward, fists out. Robin easily caught his fist, twisted it and with his other hand put his sword to Guys neck. "Don't embarrass yourself Gisbourne. You can never beat me. I'm sorry to ruin your fantasy but I let you win so all this could happen. Thanks for being such a good sport. Now I'll need my dagger back." He released Gisbourne's fist and grabbed the dagger off its place of honour in the centre of the table. He than turned to Marian. "What about you Lady Marian? Anything you wish to donate?"

Words left her. She had no idea what to say to him.

Eventually she sputtered out "I don't have anything"

"My lady" Robin responded. "There is no need to lie. That ring of yours could feed a family for a month."

Guy was fuming. He rose, about to try and hit Robin again.

Robin quickly turned and pointed his sword at Guy. "What did we just talk about?"

Guy slowly sank back down, still fuming.

With a smirk Robin took the ring from her finger with a wink and moved on.

Her expression was unreadable. She was clearly still in shock but there was still that familiar trace of anger. However, I could also hint a slight hint of amusement, as much as she tried to hide it.

"As always" Robin said as he prepared to leave "the pleasure has been all mine" and he ran out the door.

Prince John was not happy to say the least. The very least. He turned on Gisbourne yelling, "You fool! You realise what your little prank has cost us? I hope you know you will pay for the this for the rest of your life."

With that he stormed off. The sheriff happily got up and almost skipped after him.

Gisbourne was silent. "Are you ok?" Marian tried to ask but he too stormed out. She was confused obviously and ran after him. "Where are you going?"

"To catch him," he muttered at her.

"But you can't beat him."

"At anything it turns out" he muttered again.

"That's it". She grabbed his arm and made him stop. "Will you talk to me?"

"I'm talking about the look on your face when he paraded in there. I'm talking about how easily you handed the ring over."

Marian couldn't believe this. "I'm marrying you aren't I. I am running out of ways to prove to you that I love you and not him. Robin Hood is the fool not you and I can assure you that I will never be with him again."

That got him. His anger was gone and replaced by guilt. "Sorry" he murmured again.

So she kissed him and he went off to start begging the Prince for forgiveness.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a cough from behind her.

Robin and I had hung around, to return the ring, possibly. Mainly anything to annoy Marian but upon over hearing this conversation, Robin had stormed off but not before dropping the ring. The other two had been in such heated debate, they hadn't noticed all this drama on the sides.

Marian finally noticed me and the ring. "Robin heard that didn't he?"

"Oh yeah" I confirmed. "You need to sort yourself out. You can't just keep doing this."

"I cant? He's the one who faked his death."

"Because he was sure you would be there, and other reasons of course. Now he's alive you can't just forget all that happened and think it can go back to how it was before. Time to wake up Marian and make a final choice."

"I've made it my decision," she said as she tried to convince me.

"Have you?"