Marian's point of view

Hearing the sound of the warning bell could mean only one thing.

The army was here.

Stricken with worry and fear of the unknown I hurried out through the castle front door and watched as panic now set in and people were hurrying all over the place.

My eyes caught sight of the retreating form of Sir Jasper walking through the portcullis and into the town.

Quickly I hurried after him.

Perhaps I can help ?

'He will not listen'

…

'Listen to me,

He will not listen'

I know but I have to try.

…

So I called his name but he did not stop.

Not that I was surprised really.

"Sir Jasper,

Sir Jasper."

Finally I had managed to to get beside him.

All he done was raise his right hand and continued walking away to the only entrance and exit of the town.

So I just hurried along beside him.

"The time for talking is over I have to brief my troops."

He stated while keeping his eyes set straight ahead of him.

Though I had my face focused on the side of his.

Why I bothered for I don't know.

"Well at least let us evacuate the town."

Now he turns only his head towards me and sternly told me no.

We past through the open gates and continued over the bridge.

Surely he can't be this cruel as to let innocent people let alone children die ?

"But the women and children ?

Spare them please."

"An example has to be set."

We both stopped towards the end of the bridge.

I turned my whole body towards him.

"And as prince John always says the best examples are written in..

Sir Jasper on the other hand only moved his head closer to me with daggers in his eyes.

"..Blood!"

Then he stormed off and I decided not to follow him.

What was the point ?

My pleas were nothing to him.

So I turned my body back to face the direction he was going and it was then I saw the army.

The sheer size of it was quickly surrounding the entire town.

Completely trapped inside with no chance of escape or even survival.

Guy's point of view

Thankfully no time was wasted to find Alan for I found him close by.

With haste we headed towards the court yard to begin preparations for whatever was to come.

As soon as we arrived a guard informed me of Marian having only just dashed out into the hustling crowd in the town.

Alan began mumbling at this point of how close the army now were.

My instant thought was of Marian.

With haste and with Alan in toe we hurried through the crowd and saw no sign of her.

Panic was rising within me.

Low and behold as we ventured further into the town I saw her standing with Sir Jasper of all people at the end of the bridge of the town.

He appeared to be walking away from her tho which was of some relief to me.

"How many ?"

I said to Alan,

Referring to the army he was on about as we hurried over towards the town gate.

"Well their surrounding the whole town its gonna take a lot to do that"

When we reached the gate we both stopped in our tracks.

The sight of the army had shocked us both.

Marian now turned and hurried towards us both.

She ran into my arms which was pure joy for me.

I slipped an arm around her waist and placed my free gloved hand on her cheek.

Our eyes locked and we both knew what had to be done.

Time is running out for us all.

With a brief kiss on the lips I let her go and she ran off back into the town.

My attention went back to the army ahead.

"Get all our guards into siege positions"

"What guards ? their out looking for the sheriff"

Replied Alan.

"Well then get every able body man into the armory"

"You're gonna trust these lot with weapons ?"

What other choice did I have ?

I know most people won't stand a chance but at least they would die fighting than dying a coward.

"We're fighting for our lives now,

All of us."

He opened his mouth to no doubt again question my authority

Why does he have to do it ?

Instead I lost my calmness and turned to him shouting.

"Just do it!"

Alan frustratingly replied.

"Right"

We then both hurried back into the town and closed the gate behind us.

Alan then ran back through the town,

Hopefully to carry out my order now rather then later.

I stood by the gate and looked around for any sign of help being needed close by.

With all the noise around I couldn't hear anything out of the ordinary.

So I turned towards a few of the local peasants and gave them the task of keeping the doors shut.

Only to open them when ordered to by either me or Alan.