And here it is, the moment we have all been waiting for! The reunion! Enjoy!

Chapter 24

Sherwood Forest

"All packed?" Carter asked Marian as she stuffed the last of the things into a bag.

"I think so," Marian replied.

"So what's the plan?" Carter asked.

"We head towards the camp, masks up. We will try and catch them as they leave or arrive, it will be less of a shock. That's even if they are still at the camp."

"Do you remember how to get there?" He asked.

"Of course Carter, I lived there!" Marian smiled. Marian and Carter let their horses go, and set off on foot deeper into Sherwood in search of the outlaws.

Outlaw Camp

Adam was racing towards the camp, he skidded to a stop just in front of the gang who were just leaving.

"Where have you been?" Allan asked. Adam was breathing hard.

"They're here." He gasped between breaths. "It's… all around Nottingham… and … the vill..ages are... buzzing too."

"Wait slow down. Get your breath back." Robin said. The gang began to walk slowly as Adam regained his breath and began speaking again.

"They're here Robin."

"Who are here?" Robin asked.

"The people who have been following the prince north, they've arrived in Nottingham."

"How can you possibly know that?" Allan asked.
"I saw the castle, and everyone is talking about."

"What do you mean saw the castle?" Robin asked.

"Last night, they broke into the castle and stole the money as they've been doing all the time," Adam explained as the gang continued to walk. Above the gang, silently in the trees, Marian and Carter followed waiting for the appropriate time to show themselves. Adam continued, "They went up to the battlements and painted their message, but this time was different. They didn't paint a message."

"So what did they paint?" Robin asked. Adam looked around the rest of the gang.

"Our outlaw tag." Robin saw the light shining in Adam's eyes and instantly knew what he was thinking.
"Don't start this again." He said walking faster. Adam quickly followed, the rest of the gang in tow.

"But Robin, who else could it be. It has to be her."

"No, it doesn't. Everyone in Nottingham knows that tag, and it's well-known across the country."

"Yes but not everyone can break into the castle and steal money to give away to the poor."

"Forget it, Adam, Marian is dead." Robin sighed. Marian's heart sank as she watched her husband turn sad. She wanted nothing more than to jump down and take him in her arms, but it was not the right time.

"Ok even if it isn't, we need to find them. They are obviously on our side." Allan added.

"No," Robin said.

"But Robin," Adam whined.

"No is final, if they want to help us they can find us," Robin argued.

"Aren't you the least bit curious?" Adam continued, "Robin you don't know if it is."

Robin's eyes flashed angrily.

"Yes, I do know. I know it's not her Adam, because, what you seem to be forgetting is that, I. Myself. Me. carried her lifeless body through the desert. I watched her die in my arms." He shouted. The gang looked at him in shock, Robin rarely had these moments of temper in recent months. Choosing to keep his emotions bottle instead of sharing them. Adam hung his head ashamed to have caused this,

"Robin. I'm sorry." He mumbled.

"I know you are." Robin sighed. "Go back to the camp. I'll be there soon."

"Master, let me come with you." Much pleaded.

"No Much, I want to be on my own for a little while." He handed much his sword, bow and quiver. "I won't be long." He said sombrely and then headed further into the forest.

From the treetops, Carter and Marian watched Robin leave and then the gang turn and walk away.

"You take the bags and follow the gang back to camp. I'll go after Robin." Marian said.
"Good idea," Carter smiled. "I won't tell them it's you, don't worry."

"Thanks," Marian smiled, "I'll see you soon." She hugged her friend and then headed through the trees after Robin whilst Carter grabbed the bags and went after the gang.

Robin was lost in his own world, thinking about the day of Marian's death, he hadn't noticed Marian following in the trees, nor did he notice he had walked directly into the Great North Road. He looked up from his feet as he heard horses stopping.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't little Robin Red Breast." A guard sneered as 3 emerged from behind him. 2 went behind Robin circling him. The guards dismounted the horses and drew their swords. "Give it up Hood, your surrounded."

Robin went to grab is bow only to realise that we had given it to Much along with his sword. He grabbed his dagger and held it before him.

"I don't like to go quietly, you know me." Robin smirked. The guards lunged at Robin, Marian gasped from her hiding place in the trees and decided she had to help. She quickly made her way down to a lower branch and then jumped from the tree to land behind 2 of the guards. She tapped their shoulders causing them both to turn around.

"The Night Watchman, get him." One shouted, she saw a flash of Robin turn around but he was quickly distracted by guards running towards him.

One guard grabbed Marian whilst the other tried to swing his sword at her, she made light work of kicking his sword away and kicking him in the groin. As the guard doubled over she pushed him away and used the momentum to flip out of the other's grasp. Successfully ending up behind him, grabbing his arm and spinning him into a tree, knocking him senseless. The other guard had grabbed his sword again and was running towards. She ducked below his strike, sending his sword into a tree. With a well-placed kick to the knee, she sent the guard to the floor and with a swift heel in the face sent him senseless too. Marian turned to see all the guards on the floor and Robin stood a few steps from her, staring.

Robin gazed into her eyes, so much like Marian's and yet it couldn't be. Could it? He felt like he was fixed to the spot and yet had an overwhelming urge to close the distance. Marian's breath caught in her throat as Robin stepped closer.

He stood before her close enough to touch, and without saying a word he slowly lifted his hand to her mask that was covering her face and his other hand to her eye mask and hood. Marian looked at his hands which were shaking furiously and as he pulled down her hood and masks a small whimper escaped him. Her beautiful curls fell out of the hood and Robin pulled her into his arms burying his head in her neck. Marian quickly wrapped her arms around him and he started to cry.

He breathed into her neck. "Marian." His voice hoarse. Marian smiled and said the words she had heard him say so many times over.

"Yes, my love?"

Nottingham Castle

"Gisborne!" Vaisey shouted down the corridor. Prince John stood next to the Sheriff seething. Gisborne came strolling down the corridor smirking.

"You think this is funny?!" The Sheriff shouted. "How could you let this happen?"

"I didn't." Gisborne countered. "Your stationing, your men."

"You are the lieutenant. This was on your watch." Vasey shouted.

"No Sheriff, he is right, they were your men." The prince whined. "Now." He grew dark, "I want my money back and I want that crook caught. He chases me from my home, up my country and now steals from me here and makes a fool of me!" The prince seethed. "Catch him Gisborne. And Hood. I want them both dead!"