Hi, so here is another chapter, I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it! This chapter introduces a character and a woman I have been envisioning since I was twelve so I hope you all enjoy it and I hope you all recognise who it is...If not I will update throughout the second and the third story that I am planning. Verner is my own creation and I hope you enjoy my take on Kate-Who gets a lot of hate despite being played by an incredible actress.

Disclaimer-Nothing here is mine but the character or Erin and Verner and all others mentioned.

Please Read and Review.

And again TRIGGER WARNIGNS for this chapter.

Also I am happy to confirm that there are five chapters left before we reach Part 2 of this story!

Thank You so much for all your reviews and your thanks so far!

Faith Based Initiative

Chapter 18-Let It Bleed.

The Outlaws realise something is really, really wrong (again). Marian puts the past to rest as she begins to form a plan and Erin wakes up in the strangest place possible. Some TRIGGER WARNINGS for this chapter.

It was Verner who met them. He was still one of the Locksley village elders and he was dressed as such in his neat orange robe and conical hat. He still had most of his own teeth as well which made conversing with him easier. Robin had known him since he was a boy and knew he had inherited the job from his father and grandfather before him all the way back to the reign of King Henry I and throughout the war between King Stephen and this King's grandmother.

Usually the villagers avoiding calling Robin unless set upon by the Sherriff's soldiers. They avoided the obvious means of detection and Robin knew Verner well enough to know that he would never lead them into a trap even with the knife against his throat. So to see the older man standing by the wooden trench table at the local tavern wringing his hands while his wife plying two distraught young women with ale to calm them down made the hairs on the edge of his neck stand up.

Something was wrong.

Something was terribly, terribly wrong.

"Oh Robin thank the Maker! Praise his name! Oh something terrible has happened"

"What?" Robin asked only slightly weary. Verner had a tendency to use dramatic licence a tad too much when under the influence of the ale.

"Some knight has ran off with one of the village girls, we think to do something nefarious. And we think he's in gone to one of the barns but…we wanted to go ourselves of course but he's got…well…I've never seen anything like him before, I'm not sure the local forces could do anything to stop him and you know Robin I cannot risk the Sherriff's wrath coming down on the village this close to winter—" he dithered and Robin understood placing his hand on the older man's shoulder in an effort to calm him.

"I know Verner I know. Slow down and tell me what happened?"

"Well" Verner said taking a deep breath and an even bigger gulp of ale. "You know there has been some activity up at the castle but never anything in the village until today. All of a sudden according to Morag and Gwen here—and there both good girls Robin they wouldn't lie—a knight dressed all in black came riding down the path like the devil and his hell hounds were after him—pardon my language—and grabbed their friend Agnes here as they were getting water. He slung her on the back of a horse threated both Morag and Gwen within an inch of their lives if they followed him and then rode off towards the barn back there. We've heard nothing from there but Robin we've heard of these knights in black"

"You have?" Much asked surprise in his tone. Verner shrugged in response.

"One of the tanner's got a sister in the Nottingham town centre and she says they've been causing all sorts of havoc in there. Coming into houses and taking and grabbing whatever and whoever they wanted to boot. Most of the men hide their wives and daughters away from the door and window if they see them coming. Usually such a thing would stop when the men got together but because everyone sees them coming out of the castle and they boast they've got the Sherriff's permission to do what they do they don't dare act. And nobody's seen the Sherriff since his humiliation at the castle when he was acting as King so nobody knows if it's true or not."

Robin sighed closing his eyes. He knew deep down this was his fault. It was his job to ensure the safety of everyone and he had let the side down pretty badly since he had returned from the castle. There had been Marian and Djaq and Erin and plans to consider and loyalties to question. There had been Edward to grieve and above all the overwhelming desire to ensure that Marian would be safe beyond everything and anything. He had been neglecting the villagers and their problems and now here he was seeing and paying the price.

"Did you see anything else?" Robin asked. The red headed girl Morag (who could not be more than fifteen) started sobbing again and Robin sighed. He knew he should be patient but if something was really wrong then the last thing he needed was crying. Marian had never done this. She was more inclined to thump him when he was a child.

"There was the blonde girl" came a voice behind them and they all turned to see another blonde girl her hair straight with a braid across the top of it and in a clay stained purple dress. Her features were angular and Robin would have found her pretty had he not had Marian waiting for him back at camp.

"What was that Kate?" Verner said sharply. Kate bobbed a curtsey as a sign of respect for the village elder and then dumped her bucket full of water down on the floor.

"There was a blonde girl. Never seen her before, really pretty looked like she had been through the ringer a couple of times as my Mum would say. She seemed to know the one eyed man that grabbed Agnes. Grabbed a knife off that table and looked like she meant to do business"

Robin knew the answer to this question but for the sake of Allan who had gone, very, very still next to him he decided to plough onwards anyways.

"You said she looked like she had been through the ringer?"

"Yes. Like someone had punched her in the face. She was stiff in one knee. Wore a dress with flowers on it. I wanted to go after her but I had my little sister Meg with me and I…I would have gone to you Verner but…"

"I know Kate, I know" Verner said heavily. "Meg shouldn't be exposed to danger. Go back to your mother and lock the door. You did good"

Kate shot another look around and then picked up her bucket and carried on. Robin turned to Much but to his surprise Much's eyes were on Kate disappearing with a very un-Much like expression on his face. Robin allowed himself and his friend ten seconds and then elbowed him in the side. Much snapped back to the present situation quickly.

"Erin" he muttered grimly and Robin nodded.

"Verner, we will search the barns, take the girls home and tell all the men to lock up their households for the night until we say so. Nobody should be out until we give the all-clear. If a woman lives alone tell her to take shelter with her friends or with a family of good standing. Any loss of food will be compensated."

Verner nodded once and then snapped to attention. There was a reason Robin supposed, why his family were the ones in charge of the village. Really nobody could care more for the people in Locksley than the elders.

"Verner" Much called suddenly. "If Agnes has parents prepare them…if this is who we think it is…the odds aren't good. Get the Priest at the house and tell him to prepare himself for a Christian burial. Whatever we find."

There was a warning in there that Robin had never heard In Much's voice before but before Robin could ask just where it had come from Verner had turned in a flash of orange and had gone and Much was taking his shield of his back.

"So what do we think? The Sherriff's told the Black Knights that he can help themselves to the local girls if they want?"

"And Erin saw the ringleader take one and decided to act" John said heavily. "Well you've got to admire the initiative if nothing else."

"Admire the—John— "Will exclaimed. "She's going to be lucky if she doesn't get herself killed. Honestly!"

Allan made a small movement that could have been misconstrued as a flinch if one was looking for it. Robin didn't say anything. The last time he had seen Allan look like that he had been trying to explain why they shouldn't have gone after his brother and their friends and well…that had not had a happy ending for anyone.

"Alright" he said wishing he had magical cure for headaches and strong women to boot.

"Look. We know this knight took a girl to a barn, we all know what he probably wanted to do. We split up and take the barns surrounding the castle. John, Will, you take Nettlestone and any building around the town. Much you go to Treeton and see if there's anything there. Allan you stay with me and we will search around here. If you find anything send one man back here, if you find nothing both come back here. Do not engage unless you absolutely have too"

He caught John's raised eyebrow. Usually Djaq would go with Will and John would stick with Allan but Robin let his eyes flicker to Allan and then back again. John nodded. There was no way in hell that Allan should go anywhere alone right now. For all the jokes that they made about it, it was clear that Allan had developed deep feelings for Erin. Robin knew what it was to fall in love fast and deep and know it was the woman that you had always wanted. He had never fallen out of love with Marian and he knew he never would.

"Come on" he said. "Let's go."

Marian had not intended to leave camp but Djaq had been sleeping and she had needed to do this without interference. She admired and respected Djaq and she wanted to count the woman as a friend but this was something that she needed to do without someone waiting in the bushes hoping that she would soon be done before she was spotted.

She took a knife tucked into the belt that kept both Robin's trousers and his shirt up (she really did need to speak to him about new clothes, especially if she was not to show her face in the village for a while) and she managed to make it through the forest without her ribs aching too much. It was easy when one knew the path and she did. Only now she was beginning to realise that it was far easier on horseback.

She stumbled past some bushes wiping her brow on the back of her hand and then paused taking in the sight in front of her.

Her house.

Or what had once been her house.

It was now razed to the ground.

However bad Robin had tried to tell her it would be he had not prepared her for this. This had been her home. This had been her sanctuary and she had never, could never, be prepared to see it like this.

There was not one stick of wood left. Not one ember of love and family and home that had existed between it's three walls. No essence of Kate or Edward or Marian or the home that they had made together as a threesome and then as a twosome. There was…

There was nothing left of her father.

At that thought Marian staggered out of the treeline and into the ashes on the ground. She had no idea what she was searching for, weather or not she would find anything left or if she would find a body. But she knew she was crying as she put her face to the ash and sobbed and screamed for a time secluded by the trees.

She knew she had to go to Locksley and ensure that masses were being said for her father's soul. That candles were being burned and prayers being said to ease his immortal self on it's well deserved and well earned journey to heaven. She did not even know if there had been a funeral because God only knew the Sherriff would never put one on. Even if there had been one for her…if he knew that she had been alive this entire…

One way, one day, Marian was going to make sure the Sherriff of Nottingham paid for his crimes with his life. If she had to personally stab the knife through his chest and watch the life drain from his eyes she would do so. Even if it sent her own immortal soul to the depths of hell she was going to make sure there was some justice in this small corner of the world.

She heard the jingle of bridles and she moved towards the trees. She was not in good condition to take on anyone who came to the house. And she was sure it was Guy. Marian was not sure what her reaction would be when she saw him.

A part of her hoped against hope he had not been involved in the plan. A part of her…well…she wondered about that small part of her that had been committed to seeing through the marriage. Perhaps if she had—well—her father might not be ash smeared down her front.

She had the inklings of way she could make herself useful but right now she had to think.

Robin would pitch a fit if he knew what she was thinking.

She turned and began to walk the way back to the camp not bothering to wipe her face of tears. She wished now she had been more religious as she said the prayers for the dead over and over again and she wished she could believe that one day there would be a glorious garden of peace and she would be reunited with her mother and father again.

Erin was aware of several things.

She was lying down on a bed with a soft pillow and mound of furs above her to keep her warm and the aroma was one of lavender and sage and something else that made her dizzy. Someone had taken her boots off and she was aware that her dress had been changed into something silky that she knew must be as indecent as that old shirt had been.

There was a cool cloth on her forehead and her eyelids felt heavy but she forced them open sitting up.

As soon as she had, she wished she hadn't. Her head hurt.

"Ow"

There was a small huff of laughter and she turned. Through the smoke over a fire of that perfume smell that made her sleepy again she saw a woman dressed in a jacket of red. She wore black pants that were tight and her hair was dark and wavy and falling half to her back in a way that Erin could have never have gotten her own messy blonde locks to do. Her face however was covered in an mask that had dark eyes peering out and her mouth was covered with a red scarf. There was something about her that told Erin if she tried anything she would be dead before she could say doornail.

Over the years Erin had become adapt at learning how to survive.

"How…How did I get here?" and then when something else became pressingly important. "Who undressed me?"

"I did" the voice was lightly accented. "And before you ask about the man that was with me he's gone checking the coast is clear. As soon as it is you can leave. Follow the path and you'll run into one of your…Outlaw friends"

She said 'Outlaw' in a sneering kind of tone as if the very idea of Robin Hood and his Merry Men was laughable. Erin pushed herself upwards again and then winced.

"He's dead" she said.

"Oh yes. You killed your rapist. Very efficiently too"

"Jesus, Mary and Joseph" Erin said leaning back on the pillows.

"You English amuse me" the woman said finally. "You will fight wars and let the blood of anyone who insults your God sink in the sand. You do not care about the culture you destroy or the lives and yet you take his own name in vain ten times a day?"

Erin let that wash over her. Politics was the least of her worries right now.

"What…are you going to kill me?"

The woman rolled the dark eyes behind the mask upwards.

"If I wanted you dead little thing you would be dead. Trust me. No. I've…well…let's say I've been in your position…also let's say I like to consider my position. One day I think we shall meet again and when that day happens I'd like you to remember this"

Erin tried to say something but the woman held out a cup made of smoother clay than anything she had seen before.

"Tea" she said roughly. "Drink it and then go. I will not be here when you meet up with your outlaws so don't bother but you'll need this to combat the nerves."

Erin drank it. She had no idea why she should trust her but she did. The tea was smooth with mint in it and something else that cleared her throat and her head and she found she could relax again and breath. Her head became clearer.

"Here" the woman said throwing something at her. Erin saw it was a dress in light blue with a belt and her boots that were somehow (and thankfully) blood free. "You can keep the night dress. But finish your tea and be out before I get back"

And then she was gone.

There was something familiar about her Erin thought as she slipped out of the silk night thing that ended mid thigh and wouldn't have looked out of place at a high end brothel. She pulled the dress over her head and secured the belt and added the boots. The woman had a looking glass over the wall and Erin paused taking stock of what she looked like.

Most of the blood and grime had gone her hair was loose but not stiff meaning that someone had washed it or at least ran a wet comb through it. It smelt faintly of nutmeg and it fell again loose in waves down her back. Her eye was still swollen shut but the bruising was fading. She looked at herself hard in the mirror and realised what was missing.

The fear.

Of course the Black Knights were still out there and of course they were still a threat but their leader, the main man behind her pain and her misery and her constant, never ending rapes was gone. And she had been the one to take his life. She had taken back the power he had stolen from her. Even if she was damned to hell for this as the Church would say she had at least made her time on this Earth a little easier.

And she had avenged that poor girl.

With that she left the house.

Erin did not look back.

Somehow she thought that if she did then she would not see the house and the woman. Somehow she did not think she would ever see them again.

Robin and Allan had been scouting several barns when they came to one of the beaten track. What had made Robin stop however was the droplets of blood leading away along with the footprints. Allan elbowed him pointing.

"No Knights gonna wear those kind of shoes" he said and Robin agreed. Unless the Black Knights had taken to wearing footwear that was high, pointy and would be difficult to fight in (unless you really, really knew what you were doing) then there had been someone else here. Potentially there had been someone else too judging by the boots that were men's sizes but he couldn't be sure.

"Come on" he said pushing open the door bow raised. Allan followed him his sword in his hand and they stepped inside.

What met them was a blood bath.

For a second, for an endless second Robin was sure that he was back in the Holy Lands. That he was in Acre and they had just stopped and looked around to see the carnage that had taken place and the casualties that had piled high. The place looked like a blood bath.

There were two bodies on the floor. Allan went to check the girl and the grim look on his face told Robin all he needed to know. He looked at the man responsible who looked as if someone very inexperienced had stabbed him repeatedly.

"Erin" he said grimly. "Got to be. She's already dead and so Erin kills him. This is sloppy, it's emotional, it's…I don't know…either way this has to be the work of someone whose never killed before"

"Then where is she?"

There was a rawness in Allan's voice that made Robin wince. In truth he did not know where Erin was. There was no reason for her to hide or go or anything…unless the man had not been alone.

"We need to go" he said before Allan could come to the same foregone conclusion. "We need to get back to town and let them bury this girl in peace. Then we can go back to camp. Chances are she might have just walked back there."

Allan opened his mouth and then shut it again. He nodded. He did not speak. Robin wondered if he ever would.

"Alright" he said patting his friend on the back and dragging him away from the horrendous sight in front of them. "Alright Allan, let's go."

And there you are, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I look forwards to bringing you the rest.

Next Chapter-Marian comes up with a plan. Marian meets a woman in the woods, and Djaq wonders if the impossible could become the possible.