On the morning following the storm, Robin sent Will to look for any structural damages to the village, while he examined roofs. Standing on the thatched roof of Widow Elspeth's cottage, Robin assessed its damage. "Another new roof needed," he thought, adding her cottage to the list he was making in his head.

From his vantage point above the other cottages, Robin was the first to see the group on horseback approaching Locksley. Prince John and Isabella of Gisbourne, surrounded by an armed squadron of the prince's soldiers, were heading straight toward the village.

His thoughts racing to protect his family and his people, Robin slid on his heel down the roof's steep side, then back- flipped to the ground. Dashing into his house, he called out, "Much!" from habit, then remembered Much was in Bonchurch.

Marian came running, with Thornton behind her. "What is it?" she asked.

Robin was fastening his sword belt around his waist. "Keep the girls inside," he ordered his wife, "and the servants." He slung his quiver onto his back and reached for his bow. "Prince John is coming, with a small army."

Thornton reeled a step backward as Marian ran to a window and peered out. "You didn't mention Isabella," she said, as she ran up the stairs to give their daughters' nurse instructions.

"Don't worry," Robin assured his elderly trusted steward. "I'll handle this. Keep everyone calm."

Robin stepped outside to face Prince John. Every nerve inside him was tense and alert, but outwardly he appeared poised and cocky. "Welcome to Locksley, Your Highness," he said, as the prince's group pulled rein.

Isabella stared down at him, every bit as smug as he. She wasn't dressed as a nun, but was wearing one of her most alluring gowns. Then, leaning from her saddle, she beckoned Prince John to lean into her.

"Remember, my king," she whispered, "we mustn't allow him to do anything rash and become an outlaw again. He's too good at it! He'll steal the tax monies that are rightfully yours, Sire, and return them to the people."

"And destroy all my plans again," Prince John agreed. "Never fear, my pet, even if he shoots you dead, I will pardon him. As you say, he cannot be an outlaw again!"

Isabella did not look pleased, but she readjusted her face to gloat as she stared again at Robin.

Prince John's eyes glittered when he saw Marian step outside and join her husband. She, too, had armed herself with a sword, and wore a dagger holding up her hair. Lifting his voice, the prince began his announcement. "People of Locksley, I hold here in my royal hands a decree, signed and sealed by my brother King Richard, ousting you from these lands and claiming them for the Church!"

There was stunned silence, as every eye in the village turned to Robin for help.

Marian was the first to speak. "The king would never take Locksley away from us," she insisted. "We nearly died, both of us, saving his life!"

"Did you not know, you luscious beauty," Prince John chortled, "my brother's memory is as short as his penis? It's not a family trait, I assure you! With him, it's always 'What have you done for me lately?' And lately, Locksley," Prince John continued, addressing Robin, "you disappointed and failed him. He is furious you did not join him in France, and so, surprise surprise! He's seizing your village and giving it to the Church!"

"I don't believe you, Prince John," Robin insisted. "The king is merciful. He pardoned you, Traitor, when he should have-"

Robin, seething with anger, stopped speaking when he felt Marian's hand on his arm.

"Remember, Sire," Isabella warned the prince, who'd become filled with anger himself. "Do not make him an outlaw."

Prince John regained his composure. "It is I who am merciful, not my brother Richard! And therefore, Locksley, I will overlook your vicious insult to my royal person and not cut out your tongue. I give you two hours, all of you, to leave this village!"

"Let me first see the decree," Robin ordered.

Snidely smiling, Prince John handed the sheet of vellum he'd forged down to Robin. He was pleased with himself for having had the devious foresight to secretly copy the king's seal before his brother left for France to battle King Philip.

Robin chewed his lower lip as he read the document.

Also reading it as she stood beside him, Marian stated, "It can't be real!"

"It looks in order," Robin told her, hurt that the king might punish him, "but I can't believe it."

"What should we do? Fight them?"

Robin looked at the Prince's well trained squadron, then at his village. Will and Djaq had armed themselves, and looked to him for orders. Everyone else in his village looked helpless, even while Robin admired their bravery, for many of them were holding hoes or shovels or kitchen knives, ready to fight alongside their master to defend the village they loved.

Robin knew his people would be slaughtered, should he decide to fight. He knew he could not risk their lives, no matter how loyal and brave they proved themselves.

Suddenly, Kate ran breathlessly up to Robin, brandishing a knife. "You can't take our village," she called up to Prince John, her voice bold but whiney.

Prince John and Isabella looked at her, then at one another, and shared a laugh. "I'd forgotten her," the prince chortled. "Do you know, I once offered her to your brother, when I had the wench locked in Nottingham's dungeon?"

"As a punishment to Guy?" Isabella laughed back.

"Shut up," Kate snarled.

"You shut up," Isabella barked back, relapsing into childishness as she remembered her rivalry with Kate for Robin's affections.

Robin held Kate back, just as she was about to lunge toward Isabella and try to pull her from her horse.

"We can't fight," Robin told Marian, once he'd calmed Kate.

"We can't let them take our home," Marian insisted.

"We won't, I promise. Just for now, Marian, until I sort this out."

"But-"

"No buts," he ordered.

Marian looked at him in disbelief. Then, remembering his character and his many acts of bravery, she submitted, knowing he would come up with a plan.

"Two hours," Prince John repeated. "And that includes the manor's servants!"

"Sire, I've been thinking," Isabella said out loud. "The servants may stay, all except the brats' nurse. Who will see to my needs, when I'm mistress of the manor? The servants are well trained...much more so than any monks or nuns."

"As you desire, my pet," Prince John agreed.

"Oh, and I do desire, as you well know, my king!" she answered.

Marian, having overheard the exchange, spoke up. "I thought the village was going to the Church!"

Isabella laughed lightly down at her. "It is. I am the Church! Haven't you heard? I am Sister Marian Isabella."

"You just proved," Robin said, "this is a fraudulent act. I intend to fight this, Isabella. Enjoy your stay in my house." He chuckled, viciously but cockily. "I have a feeling it will be brief."

Isabella sneered angrily down at him. "Enjoy yourself, Robin, pulling your children from their home! Guy and I were children, too, when our home, our village, was stolen from us!"

"I am sorry for you both," Marian told her, "but we had no part in that! We didn't know you! Why punish our children, making them suffer as you suffered? I would think it would give you compassion!"

"Guy and I have no use for compassion," Isabella told her. "Now, as to passion, we are filled with that, as both of you know!"

"One hour and some minutes," Prince John reminded them. "The candle's burning." He laughed, delighted by his own wit. Isabella joined in his laughter.

"Pack all you can," Robin told his people, "then meet me on the hilltop. I promise to see that everyone has a place to live."

"What about us?" Marian asked him quietly. "Are we to live again in the forest?"

"Would you like to?"

"No."

"We'll go to Bonchurch," Robin decided. "Much will take us in. Come on! We'll make it seem like an adventure, so Ellie won't worry and Gracie cry."

"What about Much?" Marian asked.

"I can't stop him worrying. We'll be fine, Marian, I swear it. I'll get word to the king, and everything will be fine."

"And what if King Richard really is behind this, to force you to fight alongside him?"

"My fight is here, with you," Robin assured her, then sealed his promise with a kiss.

"Time's burning," Prince John sing-songed his warning.