"Robin," Tuck said, as they were returning to camp, "would you like me to tell Will?"

Robin shook his head. "Thank you, Tuck, but no. I need to tell him."

"Let me help you," Marian offered. "I grew close to Will and Djaq while we were together in the Holy Land."

Robin readily agreed to her request, needing her beside him. Quietly, he tried to inform her, "There's something you don't know, Marian. Djaq's-"

"-expecting a baby. Yes. I already knew."

"She told you?"

"No, Matilda did."

Robin was quiet for a moment. At last he said, "I need to think. I need to come up with a plan to rescue her." They continued walking. Robin's mind was conflicted, thinking of both Djaq and King Richard. At last he said, thinking out loud, "He must be either in Austria or France. He made enemies of both leaders on crusade, due to their jealousy."

"Who?" Tuck asked, confused.

"The king! We took Acre in two months, after Philip of France had been attacking it two years. Then, after we gained it, Richard forced Leo of Austria take down the banner he'd raised, for it wasn't his victory, but all of ours."

"Robin...?" Tuck said. "I realize you haven't slept, but we need to focus on Djaq now."

"Of course. I have a plan. Well, half a plan."

"Already?"

Robin nodded his head, then asked, "Tuck, when you were in Antioch, did you ever hear of something called Greek Fire?"

"Black powder, you mean?"

"Yes. You're going to make some, at least I think you are, if Will can locate the instructions."

"You have instructions to create black powder?"

"Will I be included in your plan, Robin?" Marian asked.

"That's the half I haven't determined. Marian..."

"Yes?"

"Why do you think my few men always win over Gisbourne's many?"

"Is this a trick?"

"It's a question."

"Well then, your men are more skilled."

"Hardly, though I grant they have improved."

"More motivated, then."

"Motivation plays a part, but my point is they are more disciplined."

"Implying I'm not?"

"Didn't I tell you, Tuck, she's astute? Marian, my love, if I'm to include you, you have to agree to follow my orders."

"Stop treating me like a child! Didn't I follow your every command, at Gisbourne's party? At least until you forced me to be held by Little John so you could fight Gisbourne, without telling me!"

Robin realized she had a point, but wasn't ready to accept it out loud.

Marian continued, accusingly. "What about Kate, Robin? She's hardly disciplined!"

"Which is why she won't be helping to rescue Djaq."

"Good."

They walked on in silence, neither wanting to concede. At last Marian gave in, saying, "Robin, please let me help. Djaq saved my life on two occasions, and nursed me to health. I promise I'll listen to orders, without question."

"The way you promised you wouldn't do anything in Locksley when the mercenaries drove out my people and you rushed in, as the Night Watchman?"

"I didn't tell you that so you would throw it back in my face!"

Tuck interceded. "We need to keep cool heads and hearts, if we expect to rescue Djaq."

Robin looked at him with appreciation. "You're right. Marian, listen to me. I can't allow you to be part of our mission-"

She took her breath in angrily.

"-unless you give me your word you will obey every order I give, even if I have to change the plan as we go."

"I give you my word."

"Alright, then," he agreed reluctantly. He knew she could not realize how her being in the fight distracted him. Every moment she put herself in harm's way, he worried for her safety, instead of staying focused on what he needed to do. He never once regretted removing her from battle by tying her up in Clun, the day they'd met Carter. He'd do it again in a heartbeat, if he thought it would save her life.

It was morning when they reached camp. The other outlaws were up, sniffing the air distastefully around Much's cooking fire, wondering what he had prepared for them to eat while Tuck was away.

Seeing them return, Kate raced toward Robin. Preparing to fling herself against him and kiss him all over his face, she was stopped short by Marian stepping into her path.

"Not today, Kate," Marian told her brusquely.

Sulking, Kate stomped away.

"Where's Djaq?" Will asked.

"Will, I am so sorry," Robin began.

"She's alive," Marian hastened to add. "But the sheriff arrived unexpectantly, and captured her."

Will didn't move, but his eyes took on a look they hadn't worn since the day he'd tried to poison the sheriff.

"We'll rescue her," Robin assured him, together with all his men. "I have a plan. Will, do you know where Djaq hid Lambert's ledger?"

Will nodded his head, with hope returning.

"Bring it here," Robin instructed.

Will raced off to retrieve it.

"Tuck's going to use the instructions in the ledger to make black powder," Robin explained to his gang.

"Black powder?" Much's worries included not only Djaq, but concern over Robin's lack of sleep, as well as a dangerous, impending rescue. "Unbelievable! Master, are you sure? I thought you never wanted to see black powder again!"

"We'll only use a little, in various parts of the castle. To distract, Much, not to destroy."

"Well I must say, I am relieved."

Robin continued stating his plan. "Allan, what's the fastest way into the castle?"

"There's a tunnel leading to the cloisters. I know where the entrance is. We won't even have to sneak into Nottingham."

"Good. Now, here's what we do..."

...

Prince John and Isabella had returned to Nottingham Castle, and were now in the Great Hall engaged in one of his favorite games of cat and mouse.

"You be the terrified mousie," he told Isabella.

"Squeak, squeak, Sire," she said seductively. "I hope the big, strong, majestic cat doesn't catch poor little frightened me!"

The soldiers guarding them stood stony faced, pretending not to listen.

"Meow!" mewed Prince John, moving about the room as if searching for her, though she stood in plain sight. "I'm going to catch a mousie by her tempting tail, and then do you know what I'm going to do to her?"

"Oh, do tell, Sire!" Isabella begged, panting as if with desire.

Pretending to sneak up upon her, Prince John proclaimed, "I'm going to pounce, then lick her all over her delicious body, before I gobble her all to pieces!"

"Help!" Isabella squeaked, then ran a few steps away. "Squeak, squeak!"

The prince laughed in amorous delight, and began chasing Isabella throughout the hall. "Meow! You cannot elude me, you naughty mousie! Shame on mousie, eating my cheese and lapping up my cream! I'm going to catch you! Meow, meow!"

Trumpets announced the sheriff's return.

"I'm not disturbing anything important, Your Highness?" Sheriff Vasey asked, trying to hide his disgust.

Prince John had pounced, and was holding a seemingly delighted, squirming Isabella around her waist. He gave her neck one enormous sweep of his tongue before replying, "We're playing now, Sheriff. Come back when we've finished."

"Very good, Sire. I'll have the prisoner locked in my dungeons."

Prince John froze. "Prisoner?" he repeated, extremely interested. Flinging Isabella aside, he demanded, "It isn't Hood, is it?"

"Unfortunately, no, Your Highness. Only one of his men. If you can call the Saracen woman a man."

"The Saracen woman? Ooh! You interest me strangely, Sheriff! Where is she? I want to see her!"

"My brother," Isabella wondered. "Did you free him from Hood?"

"Gisbourne's here, where my physician Blight can attend to his wounds," the sheriff explained.

"Wounds!" Prince John repeated. "Did Hood hurt him?"

"You know Hood," the sheriff answered. "Not as painfully as he ought to have done!"

"Gisbourne's squeezable little merchant's daughter should be summoned from Locksley, to attend to him as well," Prince John decided. "There can never be too many lovelies around!"

"I'll see to it immediately, Your Highness," the sheriff agreed. Lifting his voice, he called out, "Guards! Bring in the prisoner!"

Djaq was led in. She stood before Prince John and the sheriff, defiant and unflinching.

Prince John circled her, eyeing her up and down. "Very nice!" he decided. "Hood must enjoy you, all those cold lonely nights in the forest!"

"He doesn't enjoy her," Isabella insisted, jealously. "She's married to one of his men."

"And?" Prince John asked. "That doesn't mean they don't share!"

"She's tricky, Sire," the sheriff warned. "The last time I had her here, she used Saracen magic to escape."

"Saracen magic! I've heard of the brothels in Acre! No wonder my brother used that city as his headquarters! Why should Richard have all the fun? Or Robin Hood, for that matter? Bring her to my quarters. I've never bedded a Saracen before. I want to sample the hidden pleasures of the Holy Land for myself!"