"You're gorgeous."

Robin's murmur in his sleep woke Kate from her dream. What had he said?

Climbing from her bunk, Kate plodded on bare feet to Robin. All the others in camp slept, and she didn't want to wake them...not if he was dreaming of her, just as she'd been dreaming of him. Maybe she could squeeze in his bunk beside him, and their dreams could come true!

His eyes were closed and he was smiling, happy in his dream. His breath quickened and grew heavier, and he breathed a sound halfway between a moan and a sigh. His mouth opened.

Kate didn't know what to make of what was happening to him. His dream was clearly more intense than hers had been. Oh well, he was a man and that's how they were. It was exciting watching his hips move up and down that way slowly and then faster and faster and the way the laces on his trousers were straining. Kate licked her lips.

"I love you," he panted, and Kate leaned down and put her lips to his ear, whispering, "I love you, too."

"Marian."

Kate stood up. No! Not her again! It wasn't fair!

She was dead. Robin was no longer a lord, and it was Kate's turn now to be his girlfriend.

Kate ran to the bucket of water Much kept by the fire and carried back to Robin's bunk, splashing herself in her hurry. Scowling as Robin moaned and writhed in his sleep, Kate drew back the bucket then emptied its frigid water, dousing Robin's face, neck, shoulders and chest.

He shot up in his bunk, blinking and looking around, completely dumbfounded.

"You were having one of your nightmares," Kate explained, still scowling.

Trying to master his anger, Robin stood and shook water off him. "Don't ever do that again," he ordered Kate.

So what if he was mad? she wondered. She had banished that other girl from his thoughts and put his fire out. He'd soon forget about it and be nice to her again, just like he'd forget about that other one who was DEAD!

By now the others were awake, and Allan was laughing. Little John just shook his shaggy head, but Much was up in arms.

"What did you do to my master?" he accused her, angrily.

Much was jealous, Kate was sure. He liked her, but she didn't want him. Allan liked her, too. She could tell by the way he teased her, claiming she was stupid and ugly. But Kate didn't want him, either. His neck was too big. So were his eyes and his nose. But Robin...! Robin was so handsome!

Robin had pulled Much back and was soothing him, telling him it was alright, while pulling off his wet shirt. Kate couldn't be more thrilled to see him standing there, his hair dripping wet, shirtless.

Yes, he was her man all right. If only he knew it!

She was sure he liked her, too, but he wouldn't show it. And then, watching the interactions between Robin and Much, she thought she discovered why.

They were best friends...they'd always been. And Robin, being so noble and good, didn't want to stand in Much's way!

Kate's heart skipped. Now, all she had to do was have a talk with Much, and tell him to leave! Once he was gone, Robin would be free to follow his heart, straight to her, and she'd make him forget all about that dead Marian!

...

Robin's clothes were still wet when the gang wove through Nottingham, blending into the crowd as they passed out money.

The grateful smiles of the poor eased Robin's broken heart, but he still felt dead inside. It was all he could do just to keep going and not collapse to his knees. His legs felt like lead and his heart was even heavier, but he tried to forget by helping others live.

A trumpet fanfare brought Much, never far from him, to his side. Robin let his friend pull him to the shadows.

"What is it?" Much whispered, not expecting Robin to answer.

Together they watched the sheriff strut to the top of the castle steps, followed closely by Gisbourne and his sister.

"People," the sheriff announced, enjoying the dread and fear in the eyes watching him, "you are about to be blessed! Due to Sir Guy of Gisbourne's recent visit to London, our noble Prince John has decided to pay a visit to our shire!"

Much's jaw dropped. "Prince John, coming here?"

"Shh!"

"As you know," the sheriff continued, "our gracious, benign prince has already sent his troops ahead to help capture the notorious outlaw, Robin Hood! So far, those troops have failed! Which is why the prince decided to come here himself, in person, to oversee Hood's capture and subsequent death! Oh, this is good! This is good! So, if any of you see Robin Hood, hmm, be sure to tell him the glorious news!"

Whistling, the sheriff turned on his heel and strutted back into the castle. Gisbourne, pulling Isabella's arm, followed closely behind.

"Did you see her?" Kate asked, when the gang gathered in a market stall around Robin.

Allan was feeling uncomfortable. It wasn't so very long ago that he had been part of that trio, and he didn't want Much mentioning it again. But Much had other thoughts on his mind.

"Prince John, coming here, to catch you! I don't care if he's a prince! He is revolting!"

Robin snickered and took a few swaggering steps away.

"You're happy!" Much exploded. "Unbelievable!"

"Let the prince do his worst, as long as it's to me and not to the people," Robin answered. "He won't succeed any more than the sheriff, and with any luck, he'll make Vaisey's life hell."

"And Gisbourne's!" Much said, smiling again. "Did you see his sister standing up there? For a minute, I thought she was Marian! You remember how Marian used to be forced to stand up with them, before-"

"Shut up!" Little John warned.

The swagger was gone from Robin's steps, the color from his face.

"Sorry," Much apologized, feeling rotten. "I can't help it! I just can't stop talking about Marian! I mean, forever, she meant so much to us! I can't believe she's gone!"

The ensuing, thick silence was broken at last by Robin's gentle tone.

"It's alright, Much," Robin forced himself to say, knowing his friend loved her too, in a brotherly fashion. "I...thought the same thing."

He had. Seeing the dark-haired noble beauty stand off to the side, close to Gisbourne and the sheriff, had reminded him of Marian more than he wanted to admit.

"Finish this for me," he said, pressing his small bag of money into Much's hand.

"Master, where are you going?"

Robin wasn't sure why he was doing what he planned to do. He only knew that he wanted to.

"I'm going to pay a visit to Isabella," he explained, making Much's eyes grow as wide as saucers. "I want to see just where she stands."

"Master! You can't! You can't go sneaking into the castle, with Prince John's troops there looking for you!"

"Madness!" Little John growled.

"Suicide!" Allan added. "Not bein' funny, but-"

"I'll see you back at camp," Robin answered, the pain within him nearly erased at the prospect of being face to face with Gisbourne's beautiful sister.