A/N: Next chapter – do enjoy.

I don't own Robin Hood.

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When Will and Ava entered the camp they were both breathless. Having abandoned their horses after a hard ride for fear of revealing hoof prints, they had sprinted to the camp the quicker to tell their news. Ava managed to speak first.

"We've seen Allan,"

"What?" Much was incredulous but Djaq appeared warily eager for news.

"Where?" Robin spoke quietly but with a hard edge to his voice.

"Nottingham. He's working for Gisborne."

"Gisborne!" John exploded, filling the single word with contempt.

"And he's told them all our escape routes,"

Ava spared a worried look for Djaq to see how she'd taken the news, before taking a deep breath and continuing.

"But there's worse,"

She turned to Will, who exchanged looks with her before addressing the others.

"Sir Edward's dead."

"What?" Much, if possible, was more shocked than before.

"Marian," Robin didn't need to ask questions, he knew how much trouble Marian would now find herself in.

"No one's seen her since it was announced."

"We have to get her out," Robin said with quiet conviction.

"What? Why?" Much was confused.

"Don't you see? The Sheriff knows she'd been doing something and Gisborne suspects it is helping us! Now her father is no longer alive to protect her or be punished instead of her. And if Allan has joined Gisborne it is only a matter of time before they find out about Marian. She cannot stay in the castle!"

"He would not betray Marian!" Djaq protested but Will answered with the depressing certainty the others felt,

"Yes he would."

There was silence as they let the truth of the words sink in. Ava hadn't contributed much to the conversation since telling what she knew of Allan. She'd been staring at the ground; deep in thought, but now looked up.

"I've got an idea,"

"What?" there was slight skepticism in Much's voice. "Allan has had all our escape routes closed up."

"I can impersonate her," the others were shocked, but Ava hurried on, eager to get the words out. "It would be easy; Gisborne's already confused us once. She hasn't left her room so I can take her place there. Then go to church or something, wearing a veil, and get out like that."

She paused to hear their thoughts but no one spoke, Robin frowning heavily as if thinking the plan through and trying to think of another way. It was Will who broke the silence.

"You couldn't do it, it'd be too dangerous."

"There's no other way. And we'd have to do it now, tonight. It's the only chance we're going to get."

Robin finally looked up.

"You're right," Will made to protest but Robin silenced him. "She is, Will, you know she is." Seeing the man nod, he turned and suddenly changed back into their fearless leader and began thinking out the logistics of the plan. "Sarah can help. We're not going to be able to tell Marian so we're just going to have to trust her. Right – "

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Only a few hours later, as twilight fell about the castle, a guard crumpled to the ground after being hit round the head by John's staff. The others skirted round him, sticking to the shadows and keeping a wary eye for any more guards. Will had supplied the idea for their way in involving climbing a rope onto the battlements. No one asked how he knew this would word - they all knew, he'd done it before.

Having managed to gain entrance without anyone noticing they proceeded to navigate the dark corridors. They were lucky that they weren't far from Marian's rooms to begin with because the castle seemed oddly busy for this time.

Finally reaching the door and, keeping an eye for anyone else, Robin entered first.

The scene that greeted their eyes was one of the strangest any of them had ever seen.

Sarah was hovering around the room after being questioned and reassured by Robin. A fire was burning in the grate but it seemed to suck any warmth out of the room rather than lessening the seeping cold. The rest of the room was in deep darkness except for where moonlight showed at the window, and there Marian stood. Tall and rigid she hadn't even flinched as they tumbled into the room.

John had closed the door behind them and was leaning against it to prevent anyone else from entering. Robin moved to stand beside Marian, pale and beautiful in the cold moonlight, the shadows causing her eyes to appear expressionless. His touch acted as a release. As he reached an arm round her shoulders she turned and melted into his embrace, heart wrenching sobs wracking her body. The others turned away, such raw grief being hard to witness. Ava dashed a stray tear from her cheek.

When Marian was calm once more they explained their plan to her. At first she refused to countenance it but was swiftly brought to admit it was dangerous for her to stay. Her only argument was that Ava couldn't be put in such danger. This was soon dashed by Ava herself, who reasoned persuasively that this was the only way for Marian to get way without being pursued or escorted by regiments of guards. Despite Marian's many and varied protests Ava remained adamant she would do it. The light of adventure was in her eye and she was determined to enjoy it.

After finally being left by all but Sarah, Will seeming as if he would never go, Ava prepared for bed in a long nightdress, the likes of which she had never worn before. As she climbed into bed, laying her sword beside her, she reveled in the luxury of the mattress and the covers. Though Sarah had wedged the door shut and was herself sleeping on a sofa almost across it, Ava couldn't relax. She was filled with tension and adrenaline and she felt there was no way she could sleep, no matter how comfortable the bed.

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A/N: Hope you liked it. I'm rather annoyed with Robin making it look so easy to rescue Marian at the weekend – I've got a complicated plan made and damn it it'll work!

Please review.