Author note: Hi, I'm so sorry, yet again that it has been a while since my last update, but I have now officially moved into my new house and my holidays have started so I have no more excuses for not updating regularly. I promise that. So here it is, chapter 21, I hope its been worth the wait, this is the last mid-plot chapter before things start to really happen, enjoy.

Chapter Twenty-one

Sherwood Forest, by the river

The outlaws and I had taken to the trees, this desperate bid for concealment didn't work well for me, but I had little choice. When Marin had suggested we hideout in the trees so that we could watch what was happening and reduce the chances of us being seen, again, I hadn't been too pleased, I was pretty agile, not to be bigheaded or anything, but I knew I could hop over a wall or jump through a window or whatever if I was running away from someone, but I wasn't too good at trees. They were tall and prickly and not very easy to balance in when in completely flat soled boots. I had been able to hop up one to let Marin out of our trap, but the embarrassing truth is, I have a bad habit of falling out of them. Take when I was seven years old for example, Will had come round to my house of tea after school, way back when we used to go to primary school together, we were playing out in the garden and both decided to climb the tree in my back garden. I jumped up first, grabbing onto the rope swing my dad had put up, and using it to climb the trunk, shouting that I'd beat Will to the top, it didn't quite end up like that, I bet Will to the bottom instead. Well you see I did a bit of climbing and was well and truly thrashing Will, so of naturally I got a little bit cocky, I turned around to stick my tongue out at Will, who was huffing and puffing about how much further up the tree I was than him, and I slipped. I was less than a quarter up the way up the trunk, so I didn't break anything, and Will, who had been barely off the ground, jumped the short distance down and ran and got my mum. I blamed Will for having me turn around and mock him and didn't speak to him for the rest of the day, not until he asked me if I was going to the ice-cream van with him or not. Okay maybe that wasn't the best example to show my aversion, but that was just one time, I'd fallen out of that tree more times than I can count and while running around on missions late at night I've tumbled out of countless trees, not even my new quick reflexes or abilities have been enough to save me. I wasn't even totally comfortable sleeping in the tree house. I've never been seriously injured, but I've figured it's only a matter of time.

Anyway, going off topic, Marin suggested hiding in the trees to escape the guards, and everyone else was all for it, giving me little choice. Peering through the tree branches again I saw that the medieval squad guys were still training, I suppressed a groan only to keep myself from being found, the sun was racing across the sky, these guys had been training for hours. I pulled back and lowered myself carefully to sit on the branch, leaning back cautiously so that I could rest against the trunk, I didn't trust myself not to fall, and I began to wonder how much longer Johnson could have them training for. Even the Sheriff, Guy and Prince John had gotten bored and left hours ago. I rubbed my forehead in frustration, sure as my name was Robin Hudson the Sheriff and Prince John were at the castle scheming at this very moment, and what was I doing? Clinging to the only chance I have to stop Prince John from taking over the country and running England, that chance being however many young men who may or may not wish to join me in my crusade. Things didn't look too good. I was unnecessarily reminded of what happened the last time I tried to contact the squad guys and get them on side, it hadn't gone well, and as much as I was sure none of that had been Josh's fault, I really didn't want a repeat of the last time.

I swung my boot up to rest on the tree branch and let my other foot bangle down the other side; I rested my arm on my knee and then dropped my head onto my arm. I sure hoped my plan worked, if not, we were well and truly done for. My head shot up as my tree branch shook with the force of someone landing on it carefully, Marin was smiling down at me still resting his arms against the above branch. I didn't think Marin could be anymore at home up here if he tried, I marvelled as he dropped suddenly to sit on my branch, bouncing around a little as he did so, his smile never vanished from his face. He had been like that ever since we climbed up here, jumping about between the branches, swinging around thinking he was some sort of more agile 'George of the Jungle' (see what I did there).

"Steady on Tarzan," I said laughing a little as I gripped my branch to keep myself from toppling "Jane's going to fall out of this tree if your not careful."

"Huh?" Marin asked, his face going from restrained amusement to confusion at my words.

"Never mind," I said as he clearly didn't get my modern day attempt at a joke "I was joking."

"Oh, okay." Marin said, still looking adorably confused.

I sighed and began to push myself away from the safety of the trunk and out onto the branch, I slid my way along the branch until I was by Marin's side, then I laced my fingers with his, holding them tightly. I would have kissed him, but there was still something about this relationship with Marin that had me apprehensive, I could see myself going back to the future and being back with George and his unromantic feelings towards me and this whole thing doing nothing but causing me pain. No, it was best I didn't get too attached. Marin turned to face me, all confusion absent from his features as they played host to his dazzling smile, he raised our entwined hands to his lips and tenderly kissed my knuckles. My heart swelled and I began to wonder if I was too late to be trying to keep from get attached.

"How much longer to you think they'll be training for?" I asked wondering if Marin had seen anything more than I had whilst further up the tree.

"I can't imagine it would be for much longer," he said as he raised his hand to shield his eyes as he looked up, past all the tree branches and up at the sun "it is getting late now, I'd say its about eight o'clock and if it gets too late and they are still practicing the people might be able to hear them in the villages. That's the last thing they would want so I think they will be finishing soon."

"You can tell that just by looking at the sun?" I asked amazed, and meaning how he could tell the time, this could be something worth learning.

Marin laughed in that man-ish way that ment he was torn between being modest and being proud of his abilities "of course," he said as he watched my obvious admiration change my expression, his own changed "you can do it as well, we learnt together."

"Oh," I said dropping my gaze, feeling as though I was living someone else's life (which of course I was) as Marin talked about memories that I didn't share with him.

I could feel Marin's gaze upon me, and looked up to meet his eyes; I didn't want to alert him to the fact that anything was wrong, even though I was sure he had sensed all was not well by now. I was about to open my mouth and say something, I don't know what, something confident probably, something that would take that concerned look off his face and assure him that all was well, that I was still me. I didn't get a chance to say anything (though I wasn't sure if this was a good or bad thing) as something more pressing was going on. We both jumped into professional, high alert mode as the sound of a unnatural bird call sounded out from the trees a little way away from ours, it was the signal. I immediately jumped up so that I could get a better view of what was happening, Marin, whose hand I still held, stood up with me, making me feel less shaky on the precarious branch, I held on to the branch above us, as Marin had done earlier and began to look around so that I might see what was happening.

"…I want you here early tomorrow, if we are to move ahead with Prince John's plans for gaining control England then we will need to be ready to move upon his instructions in the morrow." Johnson said, the sound of hooves accompanied his words as he spoke to his head guard, who was also on horseback.

Peering downwards I noticed that some of the other guards were walking behind them, I ducked backwards as one looked upwards absentmindedly and nearly spotted me, and I held my breath, wondering if he had seen me.

"Yes my Lord," Johnson's right hand man said in a tone of meek obedience.

"I have a good feeling about tomorrow Nicholas, England is changing." Johnson said, his grin evident in his tone of voice, his optimistic tone filled me with dread and reminded me just how serious things were now.

Their conversation ended there and I found myself watching Marin as we waited for them to pass, his expression was one of intense concentration, I knew that he was deep in thought as he pondered Johnson's words. Other than that, his expression was unreadable, I couldn't tell anything other than that he was thinking, his brow was wrinkled with the force of his thoughts and I found myself lost in the intensity of his severe blue eyed stare. He suddenly turned to look at me, instantly the cold expression he wore melted, his blue eyes went from arctic ice to the Mediterranean Sea in the time space of a second. I felt my knees go weak, and as part of my new acceptance of my feelings for George and my relationship with Marin, didn't feel embarrassed or pathetic for them doing so. Marin squeezed my hand gently and I returned his touch, I was going to pay for this later, I just knew it.

The Sheriffs jovial war veteran passed us, his head full of malicious plans untainted by his total disregard for human life. We waited until the sound their footsteps had completely vanished before we descended from our tree. Marin released my hand and took bent down, pushing himself off of the branch in one swift movement, jolting me ever so slightly in the processes; he landed on his feet at the base of the tree, standing up and holding out his arms to catch me. My competitive side took over, the only thing that would allow me to risk the likely event of me falling from this tree, was the chance to show I wasn't some dainty little girl, as my appearance would suggest. I struggled to get my balance right, nearly falling over both edges several times, as soon as I was steady on my feet I closed my eyes; hoping I wasn't being reckless again, I took a step backwards. I felt the branch give way to air and fear momentarily took hold of me as I prayed my instincts wouldn't fail me, at just the right moment, I grabbed hold of the branch, and instead of just dangling there I swung myself forward and let go. I opened my eyes as I came in for my landing, bending into a crouch as I did so, so as to minimise the affect of the fall; that was all, no fancy flips or dives, I just landed. Standing up I saw Marin standing a little to the side of me, his arms crossed but a good natured and amused smile on his face, I was glad he knew me well enough not to be offended, as I remembered what men were like in the time I was in.

Heading in the direction Johnson had just come from, Marin and I ran back to the training field. Skidding to a halt at the edge of the field, Marin and I kept under the cover of the bushes and trees, as we scanned the field, looking to see if our plan was still possible. I cursed quietly as I peered into the field, it was empty; all of the guards and warriors were gone. I didn't understand. I was sure this was where we had been watching them earlier, where could they have gone?

"Where are they?" I mused aloud quietly, but before Marin could say a word the bushes rustle behind me, shifting into high alert mode I span around.

"Come on Robin," Panted Much as he emerged from the bushes "the warriors are heading back to their camp."

Upon finishing his sentence Much turned on his heels and headed back the way he came, I turned to look at Marin and he shrugged before drawing himself up to full height, I stood and we followed after Much. After five minutes or so of travelling in a south-westerly direction away from the clearing, I pushed aside a particularly large and obstructive branch to find Much, Jack, John and Will all crouched down behind yet another set of bushes. Marin followed me into the small space where they waited, hidden from sight; I crouched down beside Jack, Marin bending down to my right, and peered through the bushes. A camp was set up a little way away from where we were hidden, well I say camp, it wasn't a very good one. Makeshift wooden cots were made out of tree branches and hoisted off the forest floor, draped in dirty sheets to serve as uncomfortable beds. Personal belongings were scarce and those who did have possessions of there own, hid them best they could under their beds, a few fires were going around the centre of the camp and permeable blankets were tied to the trees to attempt keep out the rain. It wasn't anywhere I would have particularly wanted to live, it reminded me of a slum, what with the unpleasant smell coming from it and the unloved feeling the camp gave off. Dozens of warriors were laid down, trying to have an early night, just thankful that they had gotten through today; I noticed that there were quite a few empty cots. Just thinking about those I had not been able to save made me feel worthless, guilt began to set in again and wanted to do something about it. I knew that my plan might not be as simple as I thought it was going to be, oh I knew that what I was trying to achieve was tricky, I wasn't deluding myself, I knew as much. However getting inside to talk to them in the first place, yeah, that was supposed to be the easy part. A high log fence surrounded the warriors' camp, the only reason I knew what the inside looked like was because the gates were open at the moment to let five or so warriors pass through, escorted by guards. Castle guards were also patrolling the perimeter of the camp, making sure no one got in or out; though that said I was willing to bet there weren't any guards on the inside.

"What do we do Robin?" Will asked quietly, he and the others turned to look at me, awaiting my response.

"We could always wait for night fall," Marin suggested, looking up at the sky, which was already starting to darken "then we sneak in there."

"We don't have time to wait; we can use the darkness as cover on the way out," I said looking at Marin before turning to look down the line at my gang "we need a distraction."

"Like the one at Kingstone Manner?" Will asked thinking of last week.

I shook my head "there are more guards here; we need something that will have most of them leaving to chase whoever is the distraction."

"We need to think of something fast though," Jack said peeking through the bushes again to get a look at the guards one or two of whom began to poke around in the bushes near them out of boredom "before we are discovered."

"Right," I said in acknowledgement of Jacqueline's words "who will be the distraction?" I asked them because I didn't feel comfortable just telling them who would go, I wasn't big on the whole 'do as I say' stuff.

"I will," offered John.

"Me two," Will agreed, I noticed how sombre they both sounded, so different to at Kingstone Manner.

"We'll get as many of them away from the camp as we can for as long as we can, we'll keep going until you give us the signal, and we'll stay close enough to hear it." Will said as he took a arrow from his quiver.

"Yes," John said in agreement before he turned to Will and asked "do we attack?"

Will nodded and with one more glance at the rest of us, the two friends stood, still crouching so that they wouldn't be seen until they wanted to be, they snuck off further along the edge of the trees until they were near the west side of the camp, they were going to clear it for us. Will jumped out from behind the bushes alone; he began shooting arrows immediately, aiming for the space around the guards heads.

"Long live King Richard!" Will shouted his loud call was accompanied by the twang of his bow and the whoosh of his arrows as they soared through the air and sank into the wooden wall, missing the guards by inches. "Long live Robin Hood!"

"Oi, what do you think you're doing?" demanded a guard, his words sounding muffled from behind his metal helmet.

In response Will aimed an arrow at the guard, letting whoosh past his right arm. The guard flinched and looked around to his comrades on the west wall who were watching the scene, waiting for instructions.

"Right," the guard grumbled as Will sent another arrow skimming past his head "get him!" upon his shouted instructions the five or so guards who were manning the west wall ran forward, they pulled their swords and sprinted.

Will didn't move, he didn't run, he didn't so much as flinch, he kept his bow slightly lowered and let the guards run towards him. My grip tightened on the branch I held, even though I knew what the two boys were up to, this wasn't an image I was comfortable with, the very thought of Will being cut down was horrifying. The guards were almost upon Will, but still he held still, he was waiting for the right moment. One guard pulled ahead of the rest, he led the pack and raised his sword high, preparing to make the first blow; Will made a small nodding movement, it was so slight that if you weren't looking for some sort of signal you wouldn't have been able to see it. Suddenly John burst from his hiding place in the bushes, staff at the ready, he swung it taking the guard at the front completely by surprise, the thick wooden stick collided with the underside of the guards chin, sending him flying. Will raised his bow and aimed at the guards, they skidded to a halt, reluctant to keep going, even though there were more of them.

"What are you doing?" demanded the guard who Will had been shooting at earlier, as he ran forward to join the attack "get them!"

They guards started to charge again, Will jogged a few steps back and took aim again, shooting at the guards feet as they approached, causing them to dance about. His face was serious, clearly Will felt, as I did, that the time for joking was over. We needed to be completely focused; we had to do all we could to prevent Prince John putting together an army, even if that ment going to Yorkshire or any other place that was providing the Prince with soldiers. Surely this was why I was here, to do my ancestors' job and stop Prince John from gaining control of England in his brother's absence.

John dashed forward and proceeded to knock down a couple of guards with his staff, they weren't down long, soon all five or so guards were advancing on Will and John, it was all I could do not to run out there an help them, things didn't look to be getting much better as ten more guards appeared from the other sides of the camp, having heard the commotion. John walked backwards to where Will stood, his staff still raised in a threatening manner.

"Come on Will," He said as the guards got closer.

Will nodded, he and John paced back slowly, edging towards the trees, the guards matched their pace, the way a predator sneaks around its pray, desperate not to scare it off. Suddenly Will and John took off at a run into the trees, reacting all fifteen of the guards who had been stalking them ran off in pursuit. As soon as the fifteen men had disappeared I said,

"Come on," to the others and I pushed my way through the bushes, we needed to move fast, we needed to get inside before the remaining guards noticed their comrades' absence and assumed a better defensive position around the camp.

With the others close behind me, I ran across the grassy open space towards the trees by the south wall that looked over the camp. As the four of us reached the trees that boarded the area, we hid in the shade of a particularly large oak and I looked around its trunk to take a look at the south wall, there were no guards there, clearly they had been one of the groups which had ran after Will and John. Grateful that the other guards had yet to notice their comrades' absence I began to look around me for something that might help us get into the camp. There didn't appear to be much that might help us, until glancing up at the tree I was lent against, I noticed that one of its branches came over the wooden wall of the camp.

"We need to climb up the tree and across that branch," I said, all my apprehension towards climbing up there pushed aside "we don't have the time to look for another way."

The others nodded, "maybe one of us should stay on this side of the wall," Much suggested "to keep an eye on what's happening here, I'll do it."

"Okay," I said taking in Much's sombre expression "we won't be long."

Marin cupped his hands together near a relatively low tree branch that we wouldn't be able to reach without his help. I motioned for Jack to go first, partly because I felt like being polite and partly because I wanted to make sure there was no way for me to get up on my own. Jack gave Marin an apologetic look because he was giving her a lift, and raised her foot to place it on his interlinked fingers, when a cry of pain rang out from the forest.

I froze, I knew that voice. Slowly I turned to face Jack, her hand was resting on the tree, her foot hovered in mid air above Marin's hands and her eyes were wide.

"Will," she breathed.

Her words confirmed my fears, something had happened to Will.

"Robin," Marin said as Jack put her foot back down and he unlaced his fingers, he was reading my expression, the dread written there "are you all right?"

I shook my head, I couldn't talk. Much and Marin had heard it too, they knew what was happening and were as torn as I was, did we help them, or did we carry on with the plan?

"I'm going to help them," Jack said firmly, there was no ounce of uncertainty in her voice; she knew what she had to do.

She started towards the forest but Much grabbed her arm, "there are a lot of guards Jacqueline, are you sure you want to go, we can come too."

Jack looked pained as she looked back at us, the need to move, to help Will, was evident in her distressed features, she nodded "I have to go, I just have to, I don't have a choice," I felt Marin's presence beside me, my senses oversensitive to his company, and understood instantly what she ment "you stay here, we wont get a chance like this again and we don't have the time for this, but I have to go."

"Let her go Much," I said and he released her arm, Jack smiled sadly but gratefully at me, she walked towards me rummaging in her pocket for something.

"Here," she said handing me a small pouch which had a glass tube inside "it's a sleeping tonic, it gives off fumes which induce sleep, you might need it when trying to get out."

"Thanks," I said taking the pouch from her and putting it in my pocket, she nodded to me before taking off at a run in the direction Will and John had headed.

She vanished from sight and I tried to push aside the concern for my best friend, I could afford any distractions, but it was easier said than done.

"Come on Robin," Marin said bending down a little and lacing his fingers again.

Stepping onto Main's hands I reached for the tree branch as he lifted me up, climbing up onto the branch I turned to look back at Much.

"We won't be long," I told him as Marin jumped up and grabbed the branch, hoisting himself up onto it.

Much nodded and then headed for the shelter of the other trees, not wanting to be spotted by the guards should they mobilise. Marin and I climbed further up the tree until we reached the branch that reached over the camp, pulling myself up onto it I then got up onto my feet, aiming to walk across it as if it were a tightrope. As soon as I took my first step onto the branch I knew that I was going to fall, I felt as though I was being pushed, as though two great entities were pushing me in turn from each side. Worry for Will and John had me wobbling to my right hand side, aiming to knock me off so I could help my friends, Prince John's army was shoving on my other side, trying to send me tumbling so that I would no make it to the camp. I felt as though I was losing my balance. Suddenly two guards walked around side of the camp, clearly they had noticed there weren't enough of them to guard the camp, hopefully they had discovered this too late. I dropped down onto me knees in an attempt to keep hidden, the two guards each took a wall to guard and mercifully didn't notice me while moving into position. Movement of the branch told me that Marin had pulled himself up onto the branch; I looked over my shoulder and saw him waiting to cross. I started to move again and made it over the wall, as I reached the end of the branch I looked for someway down, I took a breath, hoping the roof of blankets they had made was strong enough to hold my weight. I then pulled myself into a crouch, balancing on the balls of me feet, I then leapt, I didn't scream or make any noise whatsoever, I didn't want to alert to oblivious guards to our presence. I landed safely on the blanket roof nearest to me, however my plan of getting in undetected didn't look good as the warriors in the camp began to mutter, having hear my landing.

Quickly I slid to the end of the blanket, not wanting them to start shouting about people breaking in, I wanted them to see me, maybe then they would keep quiet and let me talk or maybe they would turn us in. It was time to see where their loyalties lie.

"What was that?" one warrior asked, as I peered over the edge I saw him stand.

"Don't know," replied another equally concerned sounding warrior.

I had to get down there before the guards heard them and came to investigate, as I had assumed earlier, there were no guards on the inside of the camp, but if they heard them talking like that that would change. I took my bow from across my shoulder and attached an arrow to a length of rope; I fixed the arrow in my bow and shot it into one of the trees higher branches which also overlooked the camp. Pulling onto the rope to make sure it was secure I tossed the rest of the rope over the edge, put my bow back across my shoulder and dropped off the makeshift roof, just as Marin jumped onto it. I slid down the rope and let go as soon as my feet hit the forest floor, their numbers had dropped significantly again, if I had to guess I would say there was about forty or so of them, compared to fifty that morning. A few of them opened their mouths to say something, or shout for help, but I quietly cut across them.

"Please don't, I'm here to help," I said quietly, slightly taken aback, as I always was, by their age, it wasn't something you got used to.

"Lady Robin?" asked a voice from the crowd of boys, I smiled, that was polite of him.

"Yes and I'm here to help you." I said just as Marin landed by my side.

"How?" asked a familiar voice, Josh strode forward from the back of the crowd, I was glad to see he was still here, although he walked slightly funny, he arched his back inwards as though in great pain and bruises were starting to show up his on his face, though they weren't as bad as Marin's. I could tell that Josh had been punished for what had happened in the field earlier, and from his walk I was willing to bet the whip had been involved "there is no way out of here."

Josh spoke with the correctness of the upper-class, clearly he had been somebody important here as well as back in Locksdale, I wondered why he was here, if it was for the same reason.

"We will take you out the same way we got in." Marin told them, I looked up, the sun had almost set, we would be able to leave soon.

"We can't escape, if they do our family's will suffer." Josh said.

"You're being blackmailed?" I asked them, I had expected as much, this was simply the way Baxter and Conner worked, or rather Prince John and the Sheriff.

All of them nodded, gloomy looks on their faces, they were here to protect their families, they were the martyrs, suffering for the ones they loved.

"We can sort that," I said still keeping quiet "if we can just get you out of here first though, then we can work on your individual cases, we can free you and your families."

Most of them looked relieved by this, and hopeful that they could be with their families soon, others however, were suspicious.

"Why?" asked one lad who spoke with a broad accent, "how come you want to help us, we can't pay you back."

"She is Robin Hood," Marin said proudly, I loved the way his voice sounded when he said that, when he was talking about me, if only that were the case in the present "that is what she does."

"Prince John plans to use you as part of his army, he is trying to take control of the country, I wont lie to you," I said and some of the lads made shocked and repulsed noises, they didn't want this "we overheard him saying he had a special job for you, something here in Nottingham, I don't think you would want to be a part of something that is sure to be brutal and destroy your own town, the place where your loved ones live. I want to get you out of here and away from Prince John; we will help you set up a camp in Sherwood where you can stay until we sort out whatever the Sheriff has over you. We want to help."

The warriors considered my words, some of them nodded to themselves and others looked to their neighbours, wondering what to do.

"I'm not going with you," said one arrogant looking boy "if we go with you and the Sheriff finds out we'll be hunted down, they won't let us just get away, I'm no outlaw, I wont go with HER."

"What do you think will happen if you stay here?" Marin asked curtly, he didn't like they way that warrior had spoken and took a menacing step forward "your numbers have dropped, more and more of you die everyday and do you really think Prince John will let you survive whatever he has you do? He won't want any survivors who might taint his name, anyone who might affect his bid to become king. Robin is your only chance at freedom and I suggest you show her more respect."

The warrior looked at Marin defiantly and rolled his eyes,; I was willing to bet he had some noble blood in him as well, stuck up prat. Sensing a confrontation I stepped forward, subtly slipping myself between Marin and the toffee-nosed warrior.

"We don't have the time for this," I said unable to believe that they needed to think about weather or not they wanted me to help them "we need to get out of here now. So what will it be, will you let me help you?"

"I will," Josh said stepping forward "I don't want to be a soldier for Prince John, I don't want to kill."

I smiled warmly at him, Josh's declaration prompted the others to state their agreement, all of them were eager to leave, well all except the arrogant warrior, who went to sit on what I assumed was his bed and folded his arms, showing us that he wasn't coming with us.

"You go first," I said to Marin as the warriors gathered together their possessions, under strict orders not to be any nosier than they would usually be. Marin and I were stood by the rope, one of us would have to go first to show them how we got across.

"What?" Marin asked "I'm not leaving you here."

"I'll be fine, none of them are going to hurt me," I said and Marin looked pointedly at the grumpy warrior and I ignored him "look, you need to go first to show them where to go, and someone needs to knock the guard out with this," I handed Marin the pouch Jack had given me "I'll bring up the rear and make sure everything is all right, I'll let you help me down if it makes you feel better." I said, meaning it as a joke or at least as sarcasm, however Marin took me seriously and looked quite happy at the prospect of playing the gentleman and helping me down from the tree. He was so overly protective at times.

"Very well," Marin said taking the pouch from me "I'll go when the first group are ready."

I nodded; we had decided it would be smarter to send the lads across in groups of five, so as not to alert the guards and to make the whole thing easier. I was eager to get them all across and into the forest, the sooner that was done the sooner I could find out what was happening to Will, John and Jack. I wasn't going to be reckless though, not right now, I knew we couldn't risk being spotted and I was going to be patient.

The first five warriors were ready, their possessions wrapped in bundles of blankets and carried in their hands. Marin clambered up the rope first, so that he could slip the guard on the south wall the sleeping potion, it was completely dark now and I knew that we would be able to slip away under the cover of darkness, providing we kept quiet. I waited for Marin's signal, the bird noise, before I sent the five warriors up the rope. And soon we had most of the warriors out of the camp and hiding in the trees near the edge of the forest, because there was about forty of them I was conscious of how much time it had taken, I didn't think Jack's sleeping potion would last much longer. The last group of five approached the rope, Josh was in this group, the first of them started to climb and I turned to Josh and said,

"Joshua," I was going out on a limb and assuming he would be called that, I knew I was right when he turned to look at me "will you tell Marin this is the last group?" I asked and he nodded.

"I will," he said, Josh was the last of them to climb up the rope and as soon as he made it onto the tree branch I began my ascent. By the time the last of the warriors had reached the bottom of the tree, I was standing on the edge of the branch, I looked down and spotted Marin standing at the bottom of the tree, watching me and aiming to keep our agreement. I started to walk across the branch, balancing best I could and trying not to be put off by the feeling that I was going to fall I had experienced on the way across; I would beat this bad luck. I started to worry about Will, John and Jack, I had been hoping to hear some sort of signal by now, to let us know that they were okay. I was about half way across the branch when I decided to let the others know they didn't have to keep running, I guess I thought that it would help, that maybe they weren't giving us the signal because they were too busy trying to keep the guards from coming back here, I couldn't bear to think the other possibility for why they weren't here. I was raising my bent thumbs to my lips to send out the signal when I lost my balance a little, I shifted about on my weight and steadied myself, I would let them know it was okay once I reached the ground, I told myself, I really didn't want to fall. I was just about to take another step when I heard something behind me.

"Wait for me," the miserable and now maddening warrior hissed quietly, he was stood on the blanket roof and about to climb onto the branch.

"Don't." I said but it was too late, he hadn't heard me, he jumped onto the branch and before I could do anything to steady myself, I was falling.