Authors Note: Hello all, firstly my apologies for not updating. I was off travelling the world! Secondly, it appears my last chapter was not enjoyed. Im hoping this is more because of the fact it was based on the series rather than my writing! With that in mind, I will be looking to produce a more "original" version, perhaps loosely following the series. This does, of course, leave me open to serious ridicule, so please be kind. Anyway onwards with the story. Hang in there guys Marian is nearly home!
My Best
J

Chapter 14

Bavaria

Marian rode carefully through the town and towards the gates of the main castle. "Carter?" She said making sure he was still awake.
"Hhmm." Carter murmured.

"Hang in there we are nearly there." She said, she had ridden hard all through the night, the horses were tired and so was she. They arrived at the massive gates and she dismounted and headed to the guards.

"Do you speak English?" Marian asked knowing that if they didn't this would fall on deaf ears.

"Yes. I do." The younger man said.

"Thank god, please I need some help, my friend he is injured."

"Sorry the castle is under lock down."

"Please I know Count Fredrick."

"The castle is under lock down."

"Please, tell him I am here, he will open the gates." Marian gasped, they had travelled all this way only to be stuck. "I am Lady Marian."
"Move along, you are not getting in today."

"Please I am Lady Marian, he met me in Nottingham when he travelled to England, him and I are friends." Marian pleaded. The watchman on top of the tower saw the young women below, he had travelled to Nottinghamshire with the count and recognised the lady. He quickly rushed inside to tell the count.

"Count Fredrick." The watchman entered the great hall where the count was having breakfast.
"What is it? Must you disturb me so early on?" Count Fredrick said.

"Sir, you may want to see this. Lady Marian of Knighton is outside."

"Lady Marian, from Nottinghamshire?"

"The very one sir."

"Well, we must go take a look."

Marian was at the gates pleading with the guards. "Please just tell him I am here."

The guard shoved here away, "Move along before I move you myself."

Marian gathered herself together and went to collect her horse and Carter. She felt like crying but that wasn't going to help Carter.

"Guards that is no way to treat a guest." Count Fredrick said as the gates opened. "Now Lady Marian, whatever are you doing here in Bavaria?"

"I said I would visit did I not." Marian smiled gladly receiving a hug from an old friend.
"Tell me, where is your scruffy outlaw? Because this." He gestured to Carter, "Is not him."

"I promise I will explain all, but right now, my friend is dying he needs help."

"Of course. Bring them inside and fetch my physician."

"Thank you Count Fredrick." Marian smiled and followed him inside the gates.

Inside Carter's room which the Count had kindly provided, the physician was working on Carter's leg whilst Marian sat by the bed side.

"He is very lucky." The physician said packing his things. "It missed the main artery by a whisker. If it had of struck it he would have been dead within an hour."

"Thank you very much." Marian sighed.

"Few days rest and he will be fine."

"Thank you again."
"Your welcome." The Physician said as he picked up his bag the door opened and the Count walked in.

"How is he?" He asked.

"He will survive. Now if you'll excuse me." The physician said and walked passed the count.

"That is excellent news." Count Fredrick said. "Lady Marian, my maids have prepared a room next door for you, there is a bath ready and I have assigned a lady in waiting for you."

"Count Fredrick there is no need." Marian protested
"Ah ah ah, I insist, you are my guest." He interrupted, "They have been and collected some clothes for you too, and they also have some for him. Now we dine in an hour, I hope you will join me."

"I cannot I must stay with Carter."
"Please Lady Marian, I will station a maid in his room, any change and they will alert you. You must eat. You look positively starving."

"Very well, thank you, Fredrick." Marian curtsied and Fredrick nodded his head.

Great Hall

Marian emerged, freshly bathed and dressed in clean clothes, the clothes were decent, not very revealing which she was glad for. She could imagine what Robin would say when she returned home.

"Ahh glad you could join me." The Count said, "Please sit." He pointed to the chair a little away from him.

"No Countess?" Marian asked, shocked.

"Alas, I have not found anyone worthy of the brunette I met in England."

"Ha-ha very funny." Marian laughed as the Count smiled. "Seriously you are not married."

"I have never found the right women." The Count said. "So any way, you said there was a long story behind your arrival here and with the lack of your Robin Hood. So Marian do tell." Marian smiled and began to retell the story from the way back on October 14th when it all started.

"And he married you whilst you lay dying in the sand?" The Count asked.

"That's right." Marian said.
"So you are legally married?"

"Yes, it was before the King of England so it is as legal as any marriage."

"And you were with child?"

"Yes." Marian answered.

"And the boy upstairs, he is a friend of Robin's."

"Yes."

"Well Lady Marian, your life is certainly not boring."

"I think I would prefer it if it was." Marian laughed.

"We can send word home to your husband if you wish."

"No I feel that would not be good. The journey home is full of danger, Carter is living proof. I would hate for him to have hope I am alive only for him to then lose me again."

"Well perhaps you should just stay here and we can live out our days together!" The count jested.

"I think perhaps the King may notice my absence when he returned home." Marian laughed

"Ahh yes, Richard the lion heart a problem as such." He smiled.

"So, why does a man who seeks danger have his castle under lock down?"

"For the same reason your husband believes you dead. Your famous Sheriff of Nottingham has made some friends in Germany and I am one of the people on his hit list. I thrive on danger Marian, not death."

"That is something I can sympathise with," Marian said.

"Your story never said how you ended up travelling here?" The count asked. "Surely France would be quicker?"

"Well yes, it would have been however we would have run out of money long before we reached England." Marian explained, "We needed a friend were we could stay until we planned our next move, and you are the only foreign friend I have."

"How much money have you got left?"

"A little under half a pound." Marian said.

"Well I am sure I can assist a friend of mine with getting home, even if it is to her husband." The count joked, "But you must stay for a while, after all your friend cannot travel for a little while."

"Of course, thank you Count Fredrick I am forever in your debt."