Hello everyone! It's been a long time since I've been back in the Robin Hood fandom!

It's been a few years and I can only blame my infatuation with Peaky Blinders. Now, this is a fic that I started years ago, but I lost interest in. Now, it'll be quite different from my other stories, as the character's seem quite different from their usual roles in show. (The sheriff and Isabella are great examples.) However, I feel as if it's finally time to give this story it's time to shine.

Also check my profile for the book trailer my friend made up! It's rather lovely!

Now, as always I own nothing

Chapter one: Sold to the highest bidder

Lady Megan Bennett wiped the dirt from her hands as she walked through the dark corridors of her father's stone estate. Her father, Lord John Bennett had been dead for nearly a month and Meg's life had continued to grow darker with each passing moon. She'd been close to her father and she thought that they truly had everything that one could desire. That is, until her father left for France on business and came back with…. that woman.

That woman was truly all that Meg could describe her as. Her father had married a woman who was just five years older than Meg. Meg, was nineteen and her mother had been only dead for three years. She'd truly thought her father would never remarry. However, she quickly determined that his remarriage hadn't been for love. Her father was lonely and he missed her mother. His remarriage had been one of lust and that faded rather quickly.

The marriage hadn't lasted long. Her father died that winter from a severe fever. Her stepmother, Isabella, had nursed him faithfully, but he passed away in the night before she was able to bid him farewell. Their marriage had not even lasted two months. Meg had entertained the possibility of poison, but she dismissed that thought. The lady Isabella had a reputation in France, but not for murdering the men she'd dallied with. Meg sighed as she approached her father's library. She'd hoped to grab one of his many books and tuck herself away in her room.

As she put her hand on the door, one of her father's servants approaches. "I beg your pardon, milady. The lady Isabella, requests your presence in your father's room of business."

She exhales and nods. "Thank you Roger. I shall go immediately."

He nods apologetically. "I'm to escort you there."

"Thank you." she inhales as she allows him to lead the way. "Have you any ideas as to why she requires my presence?"

"No, milady. A few letters arrived for her. One, from a Lord Vaisey. That seemed to interest her greatly."

She frowns. "Lord Vaisey? I'm unfamiliar with the name."

"As am I, milady. Sorry I cannot be of more assistance."

"It is alright, it is not your fault."

Roger tapped on the closed door. "Enter!" Isabella snapped, causing them both to flinch. Roger opened the door and she swept past him. Her stepmother was writing a letter at her father's desk, causing her stomach to turn. The calculating smile on her stepmother's face informed her that this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. Isabella smiled as she set down the quill. "Roger," she blew on the letter before folding into thirds and pouring melted wax on the letter. "take this to a stable boy and have them ride immediately to Lord Vaisey's estate in Locksley."

Roger nodded and stepped forward to take the letter that she shoved at him. "Of course, milady."

"Also, inform the stable master to ready my carriage and another for luggage. The Lady Megan's horse is to be prepared and ready as well."

Roger has a confused look on his face, but he nods and leaves the room. Meg speaks up as she inquires. "What is going on?"

"Sit." Isabella practically barked at her. Meg moved slowly towards a chair opposite where Isabella had been sitting. Isabella inhaled before stating. "Lord Vaisey has been searching for a suitable match for his stepson. Lord robin of Locksley."

Now, that name was familiar to Meg. Mostly because Robin's tales of his heroics in the war had spread all the way to England. He'd been wounded in his service to the king and sent him. His tales of heroics had soon been replaced with tales of his conquests with a variety of ladies. Multiple women had been forced to marry quickly in an attempt to save their slightly dirtied reputations.

Meg cleared her throats. "And what has this to do with me?"

Isabella smirks. "I'm familiar with lord Vaisey, he's an acquaintance of mine." Meg wondered if Isabella knew the difference between 'lover' and 'acquaintance.' She doubted it. "I wrote to him and offered him your hand in marriage."

Meg's mouth dropped in horror. "You did what?!"

Isabella continued as if she hadn't heard Meg. "He has accepted my proposal and tomorrow, you will be traveling with me to the estate, where Lord Robin will resume courting you. After a period of three months, he will wed you."

Meg stared at her before shaking her head. "I will not! My father promised that I'd be allowed to wed for love!"

"Well, love doesn't feed people." Isabella stated firmly. Someone banged on the door and she ordered. "Enter." Two guards enter the room and Meg stands, feeling like a caged animal. "Take her to her quarters."

She was shoved into the arms of the guards. She stumbled, but caught herself as her stepmother smirked. "I will not allow this!" Meg stated, unsure if she was even allowed to protest this marriage arrangement. "My father-

"I don't care what your father wanted. You think I married him for love?" Isabella snorts in disgust. "Please. Your father was a means to an end. He wanted my body and I wanted his money. We both got what he wanted." Meg inhaled sharply as hot tears dribbled down her cheeks at Isabella's cold words. "You will marry this Lord Locksley. With this marriage, I'll finally had a connection and I can find another advantageous marriage."

"I won't marry him!" Meg stated. "You can't make me!"

"Oh but you see," she stated firmly. "I can. You see. Your precious father neglected to tell you that this estate is broke. There's only enough money for your dowry, which I'm holding onto!" She inhales. "Now, if you wish to keep this home, you will marry, otherwise I shall sell it to the next lord!"

"You can't do that!"

"I can. You see, I've been charged with you until your marriage. Only once you're married and your husband's problem, can we be free from each other. And I've no wish to look into those eyes a morning longer." She turns to the guards and barks. "Lock her in the dungeon. We leave for the manor tomorrow and I know her, she'll try to escape!"

"You can't do this!" Meg screamed as she tried to break free, but she was dragged out of the room. The staff, many of whom she'd known since she was a child, looked horrified. None of them could dare to help her; it could result in a severe punishment, even death.

Meg was dragged to the lower level and thrown in the first cell. The guards locked her in there and left her alone with the light of a single lantern. The cell was surprisingly clean and upon inspection of the blanket, she realized that her stepmother knew that she'd have fought this whole marriage and had the cell prepared for her. Meg sat on the edge of the cot, rubbing her shoulders as she tried to keep from crying. She was unable to do so.

Oh, how her life had changed so vastly in a matter of minutes. In a few months, she would find herself locked in marriage to a man she'd never known, nor did she think that she had it in herself to love him. Lord Locksley was a man who desired the company of women; she wanted a man who desired her above all others. She was no great beauty, but she wanted to feel as if she could be in the eyes of the man who loved her. Perhaps, he could be reformed, but she knew her stepmother. Her stepmother wouldn't have considered picking a man that she could fall in love with. She most likely had picked a man who was hard and cruel.

Meg curled up into a ball and cried. Tomorrow, her life would change and she'd be on the road to hell while her stepmother got rich off of whatever the Lord would pay for her virtue. Meg shook her head. She should have accepted the offer of Lord Frederick two years ago. She hadn't loved him as a she should have, but he was at least a friend and he'd have treated her with respect. She tried to sleep, but her mind was filled with all the horrors that she could suffer at the hands of Lord Robin of Locksley as his wife.