Authors note: Please don't hate me! I swear, it all comes right :)

Chapter 15

Bavaria

"Count Fredrick I can't thank you enough for everything you have done for us." Carter said shaking hands with the Count.

"You're very welcome Carter." The Count smiled. It had been a week since Marian and Carter had arrived and now Carter was fit to travel it was time for them to move on. The Count had given them new horses and had even provided 3 escorts to lead them through Germany.

"Are you sure you can spare the men?" Marian asked mounting her horse.

"Of course. Nothing is too much to see you to the coast safely."

"Thank you, you are too kind."

"Here Lady Marian this is for you." The Count said as he passed her a bag filled with money.

"No I can't possibly accept after everything you have done for us."
"No no, I insist." Marian nodded and smiled.
"Thank you, you are a true friend."

"Your welcome, now come back soon and bring that scraggy outlaw with you."

"I will thank you." She smiled and they headed north towards the coast.

"I think he likes you." Carter said once they were further from the castle.

"Grow up." Marian smiled. "Come on, we've still got a long way to go."

Nottingham – Sherwood Forest

Isabella rode at break neck speed through the forest. She reined her horse and quickly dismounted grabbed her items from the bag and then smacked the horse on and hid behind a tree. She watched as her pursuers rode past her and then she spun around the tree to hide her possession in an empty tree trunk. She heard a horse snort behind her and a man on the ground with a piece of rope.

"I guess I should just come quietly." She said and held out her hands ready to be tied. When the man went to tie her hands, she kicked him in the groin and threw him to the floor, she grabbed his sword and then went to disarm his friend. She successfully pulled him from the horse but was grabbed by the other man and he tied her hands. "No please you know what he will do to me." The man pointed a sword in her back and held the rope tight.

Robin had been hunting in the forest when he had heard the horses, he now stood a little way away watching what was happening, and he fired an arrow through the rope. He ran into the clearing and made light work of disarming the two men.
"Robin Hood the pleasure is all yours. Now I think it's time you were on your way." He said smugly as they scrambled to their feet. Robin turned and walked to Isabella who was struggling with the bonds. "Here allow me." He said. He untied the ropes and she quickly turned, she looked up and Robin took her in for the first time. He smiled as he looked into her face, she was beautiful, very similar to Marian. "So tell me why two men would be chasing you."

"It wasn't me they were after it was my mistress." Isabella said. Robin smirked.

"Your mistress?"

"Well I would hardly be a good decoy in my maid's apron would I? I was helping her escape."

"Escape what?"

"Her marriage."

"Who is she married too?"

"Squire Thornton. Now if you'll excuse me she awaits me in Nottingham." Isabella turned to leave.
"Woah woah." Robin said grabbing her arms. "Alright but you can't just go to Nottingham on your own its too dangerous. I'll take you there, safely if you tell me your name."

Isabella nodded, "Isabella." She smiled, Robin smiled back to her. "Will it be necessary for us to hold hands the entire way?" She asked, Robin laughed and released one of her hands.

"Sorry," He said with his boyish charm.

"Seriously though, I would like the use of my other arm." She said. Just as she spoke the sound of horses neighing could be hard and Robin pulled her against him hiding them behind a tree. Just as they hid a horse emerged in the clearing seating no other than Gisborne. Gisborne reined his horse and looked around, he then kicked his horse on and continued his journey.

"He's back." Robin said.

"Who?" Isabella said.

"Gisborne." Robin said. "Come on we need to find my men."

Gisborne's Camp

The Prince's black elite guards marched around camp practice drills and tactics while Gisborne stood in his tent. The gates began to open and the Sheriff rode in a top of his white horse. Gisborne walked out of his tent smiling smugly. The sheriff dismounted and the guards took his horse.

"So I see court went well." The Sheriff said, Gisborne shrugged. "Well it must have do for the Prince to provide you with all this and horses and men."

"Necessities." Gisborne answered.

"So he's obviously sent you back to Nottingham with a mission and yet nobody saw fit to tell me. The last time I checked I was still the sheriff."
"The Prince is still waiting for his 1000 crowns." Gisborne walked past him. "His patience wears thin."
"As does mine. What's the mission?"

"He wants me to kill Robin Hood."

"Oh I'm sure he does. Yet you haven't managed it so far,"

"Well this time it will be different. This time I will command the mission, without ill-conceived incompetence from others."
"No you will fail, as you have done every other time before. And then you will come back and beg me for my patronage."

"No not this time. The prince has given me a weapon that even hood can't escape."
"What weapon?"
"And I will not have need of you ever again." Gisborne smirked and walked away. The Sheriff seethed and turned to collect his horse.

Sherwood Forest

Robin held Isabella's hand as he pulled her behind him through the forest chased by Black elite guards. They ran into the road and met the gang.

"No not this way turn back. We've got company." Robin said catching his breath.
"So I see." Allan said eyeing Isabella.

"No not her, black elite. Gisborne is back and he's brought some friends." Robin gasped. "Come on quick lets go." Robin pulled Isabella behind him and the gang followed. Moments later Black Elite rushed through the road the gang had been stood on in hot pursuit.

"We can't out run them." Isabella gasped as the gang rushed off before them.
"We don't have to." Robin said.

"COME ON." Adam shouted as he jumped over the cliff.

"Woohoo." Alan and Much shouted and John followed suit. Isabella skidded to a stop pulling Robin with her.

"We can't." She said.

"Yes we can." Robin said and grabbed her hand taking a step back. He pulled Isabella over the edge with him. Gisborne and his black elite emerged at the edge of the cliff just in time to see the outlaws scrambling onto a track.

"Haha, see you Gisborne." Robin laughed. Gisborne smiled as he looked down at his map.

"It's time, get the weapon into position." He said and the team turned around and headed back the way they came.