Gisbourne had been angry before but nothing like this. As he wiped the blood from his mouth he looked up and saw the women he loved kissing the man he despised. On their wedding day.

Annie contemplated comforting him but was frankly too scared. It never occurred to me how she may have had feelings for him. Not intense love obviously. I do not think my sister to be capable of love. Yet, thinking back now, it was a strong possibility that she had been living vicariously through Marian. It would explain how passionate she was about their union. She had always been strange like that.

Her loyalty changed quickly after what Gisbourne did to us the next day.

I know only what happened in Locksley.

She told me the Nottingham events afterwards.

I tried to be grateful. But I was furious at her.

She knew what was coming.

If she had taken the small effort to warn us, his death could have been avoided.

But I am getting ahead of myself.

The church was in shambles. Outlaws were running loose, fighting the few guards that were there and basically making a complete mess. It was no longer about the guards, most of us just wanted to make a mess. Tuck was running around pulling out the remainder of his hair as he tried to save his precious church.

There were far bigger things going on.

"I love a good wedding" the Sheriff told Gisbourne as he offered him his hand. Gisbourne didn't take it. The Sheriff was the kind of man who would easily drop him when him was down. He was holding in laughter already.

"Don't give me that look Gisbourne, it was just a fantasy. Now it's over you can go back to doing what you're supposed to do. Being a common servant. Are you angry Gisbourne?" he asked me. "Good. Use that. Get him back."

The gang had run out by this point. The interior of the church had been destroyed. The peasants had joined in the chaos and everything was a hopeless mess. All in a good days work for the Merry Men.

"Gisbourne!" the sheriff yelled at him when he finally got back to the castle. "Prince John wants to see you."

"Does he blame me?" Gisbourne said, knowing the answer.

"Of course not" the Sheriff said with an evil smirk.

Annie tiptoed behind them, wanting to be the first to know Gisbourne's fate. There were many doors to Prince John's main chamber and we had long ago discovered the one close enough to allow for easy eavesdropping. The wood had slightly weakened and chipped away to leave a large enough gap. This allowed us to hear many important plans.

Despite how demeaning it made her feel, Annie sprawled on the ground to allow her closer to the said chip for full possible sound.

"How could you let this happen?" Prince John yelled at Gisbourne. "I brought you to England under the instruction that you could easily get her to marry you. All the time I heard about how close you were in France and how inseparable you were. People were always telling me how you were clearly in love. So I thought it would be simple for you to not lose her to a common outlaw. And what did you tell me when you first got to England?" He didn't give Gisbourne a chance to respond. "You told me that it wouldn't be a problem and that you already loved her. It was sickly sweet but look what you've done. You pushed her closer to Hood!"

He couldn't take it anymore. Gisbourne punched Prince John. It was hard too. Blood poured out of his nose. The Sheriff was once again holding laughter as he enjoyed his place on the side-lines.

People were beheaded for much less. Annie mumbled a silent prayer for his death to be quick and with minimal pain.

Prince John was confused at first. Amazed that someone would dare do that. He didn't sentence Gisbourne to death. He was too surprised.

"Why are you hitting me?" he finally said calmly. "It's Hood you want. I know he'll be in Locksley in a few days. It doesn't take a genius to see his schedule. Do something about it. I supply the funds and you supply the hatred. I think we can work together. "

Gisbourne couldn't believe it. His mind was racing with possibilities. He smiled. This act of smiling felt strange after the previous days events.

"I will."

"You want that land I promised you? The title? Bring me Hood's head." The simple image of this in Gisbourne's head brought a sick smile to his face.

"Now go I have other things to attend to"

He went out in a kind of daze and bumped into the sheriff who followed him eagerly.

Annie leapt from her position and raced around the corridors until she was safely behind a wall that allowed to hear this conversation also.

"So do you have a plan?" the Sheriff was asking.

"You'll have to wait like everyone else." Annie didn't like the way Gisbourne said this. It sounded like they were talking about some sort of game. A sick game that would result in death.

"You don't. Stick with me kid and I can teach you things. If you succeed you will not only get your revenge but will get the favour of Prince John."

Gisbourne and Annie were confused at the sudden helpful nature of the Sheriff. "That's exactly what you don't want," Gisbourne pointed out. "You love how pathetic my life is."

"Actually I just want Hood dead and together we can do that."

"I don't need anyone,"

The Sheriff snorted. "Is that why we had that display at the church this morning? Face it Gisbourne. You've lost. And if you want full revenge, you will listen to me."

Everyone paused at the sound of footsteps.

Gisbourne knew those footsteps.

Annie panicked as she recognised the distinct way her cousin walked.

Many people observing this would expect Gisbourne to flee. He took the opposite approach and stood his ground, glaring all the while. Annie could hear Marina's footsteps slow down as she saw her obstacles. This would have come with her quick brainstorming on possible escape routes. Then the sound changed as she rushed to pass him.

The Sheriff hated the idea of a wasted opportunity but let them have this moment.

She paused, wondering if she was expected to say something. Annie can only assume that she lost her nerve and raced away. Marian turned to the left and Annie thanked the Lord as her spying place was left unnoticed. She had no wish to be on the receiving end of that anger.

Marian seemed to be on the familiar route to Prince John's main chambers.

Annie raced back to her original hiding place. She was a lot slower this time. The running was an abnormality for her.

The tension in the room was almost painful. To say that Prince John was furious would be an understatement. For once, Marian knew to hold her tongue.

"You are a disgrace," he finally said. Marian showed no sign of fear but Annie knew her well enough to know that she was terrified. For one thing, she has never been silent for this long.

"Do you honestly have a plan for your life?" he asked her. She had no response. "I am not going to continue taking care of you for the rest of your life. I gave the chance to marry someone you wanted and you didn't go through with it. I could try an arranged marriage but I can only that you'll do the same thing. I could send you to a convent but then I'll feel sorry for the convent.

Robin was not mentioned once. Both women held their breaths.

"I'm sending you to that medical school in France" he told her. "You'll study there and then live on in France as a physician."

They were both shocked. She couldn't be silent any longer. "But what is my punishment? I left a man at the alter. Surely you're at least going to yell at me for publicly embarrassing you or something. Instead you reward me? What aren't you telling me?"

He ignored all of her questions. "You leave in three days time. I have already arranged for your things to be packed. Say your goodbyes."

Annie sat back on the floor. Far too much had happened that day and she needed a moment to calm herself.

Then the moment was over and she was back in action

Unfortunately she heard the clanking of footsteps. Two guards now patrolled the corridors of which the spying room was located.

Annie was trapped and they showed no sign of moving.

So it seemed that she would be spending the night in this room. I personally believe this to be karma and was happy to hear how slow the night dragged as the floor grew colder and harder.

But of course, Annie managed to sleep through a great portion of the next day. She was a lazy thing.

A normal person would have instantly leapt into action and have raced to warn someone about the upcoming plan.

Annie of course, took the time to clean herself up, bathe and demand countless servants to dress her and prepare her hair before she even thought of helping.

She then strode calmly to visit Marian. Annie hoped to interrupt her packing desperately as she yearned to follow the dream she had followed since she was about twelve.

Needless to say, she wasn't. She was packing, but it was only putting a few essentials in her satchel so that she could rush off to visit us. And when I say us, I mean Robin.

"Packing rather light aren't you? Annie said. "I would have thought that you would require slightly more than that to travel to France.

Marian paused. "I won't even ask how you know," she said with a smile. "You far too devious cousin."

Annie realised how long it had been since she had seen Marian smile like that. There was true happiness about her. Something told her that this happiness had nothing to do with France. "So why aren't you packing?"

Marian paused. "Don't start Annie."

"You best be going Marian. This is a great opportunity. There is no future here."

"There could be."

"What was it you were always saying about Robin. About the insecurity?"

"Well I shouldn't have said those things. I trust Robin. And I love him. Please try to understand."

Annie was quickly angry. "Have you forgotten that Prince John wasn't requesting that you leave. He was demanding it! He want's you away form Robin."

"We can work it out."

It was clear that Marian had made up her mind. Annie sighed and made her decision."

"Was there something else?" Marian asked as she pulled her satchel over her head. "I'm about to leave so make it quick."

"No. There was nothing else."

Marian smiled again and hugged Annie un-expectantly. "Sorry," she said after a quick laugh. "I'm just so happy. And really happy for once Annie. Please believe me."

Annie nodded slowly and Marian was already at the door. "It's for your own good love," she said softly.

I will never forgive her. Her master plan was for Robin to die so Marian would have nothing holding her back. I no longer call her sister.

She still wanted to know Gisbourne's plan. Not knowing things drove her to madness.

So she snuck by his quarters.

The sound put her instantly on edge. It was the sound of a sword being sharpened. She had the feeling that there would be blood on that sword very shortly.

The Sheriff was there too, happily mumbling to Gisbourne about how brilliant their plan was. He grew bored quickly as Gisbourne was obviously paying no attention. So he tested him. "Are you aware that Marian is leaving England?" The pause in the sharpening could only mean that the Sheriff now had Gisbourne's attention. "Well the Prince told her to leave. You never know. Hood may convince her to stay."

"It doesn't matter," Gisbourne. "Hood will be dead before he even learns of this."

He smiled an evil smile. "That's the kind of thing I like to hear."

"Tomorrow, they die."