Taking Matters Into His Own Hands

'Marian'

The name came out of as a whisper this time but still it was a pause too long, that slight pause that Robin allowed this 'imposter' posing as the Night Watchman allowed them to get away taking the taxes with them as John and the others caught up, with John slamming his staff angrily into the ground.

'Impossible' Robin shook his head as he slowly fell to his knees .

Marian had been the Night Watchman but she was dead and now someone, someone had taken up the act and were potentially exploiting all she had created with the Night Watchman and ruining the legacy and what it stood for.

It just couldn't be Marian and that part hurt the most.

He cried out in anger so that birds flew from their nests in the trees surrounding them as the others looked confused having not seen the thieves or the one dressed as Marian's alter ego.

Much filled them in and John swore loudly as Kate consoled Robin

'They have no right...'

'I know...I know they don't but we'll find them take back the taxes stop whoever it is...'

'I'll kill them ...'Robin stood up marching his way over but Little John marched behind him pulling him back by the scruff of his shirt.

'Robin...NO!'

'Yes John... The Night Watchman was Marian.. it was her idea, her symbol , her way of giving back to the poor. Who knows what they will do with those taxes...'

They could give them back to the villages... Some of them don't even know you're still alive Robin, someone could have taken over The Night Watchman to give everyone hope now the original Watchman has gone and has been gone for the last year. They might not have known it was Marian who was the Watchman, but it doesnt mean that people wont stop trying to bring hope not after you've brought them that first'

Tuck moved alongside the pair speaking calmly as he always did to reason with him, Robin chewed his lip he still felt hurt like Marians legacy as the Night Watchman could still be undone, it was her thing and now she was gone.. He was too shocked to even contemplate that they could be helping others and would actually give the tax money back but he couldn't risk it just incase they were actual thieves, people needed that money to be able to survive the winter.

'I have to track them, I have to get those taxes back' He roughly shoved off John's hand which was no easy task in itself, leaving Little John to give an exasperated sigh and pull Robin to face him by the shoulder.

Before punching him in the face so that Robin fell unconscious to the floor.

'Sorry...' John massaged his fist as Tuck shook his head at John and Much and Archer lifted Robin to carry him back to camp.

Urghhh' The darkness slowly faded as Robin opened his eyes, but his face felt bruised and sore, and slowly the memory of John's fist connecting with his face before the darkness overwhelmed him flooded his mind.

The outlaw found himself under the furs beneath the shelter of camp, Much and Archer were looking down at him though only Much looked sympathetic.

'I wish he wouldn't do that..' Robin moaned gently as Kate was there to press a damp cold cloth to his face.

'Its your own stupid fault...you're the one who kept on, John just probably saved you one from looking stupid and two, from getting hurt.'Archer smirked as he looked to Robin with his arms folded .

'I wouldn't have got hurt' Robin scowled lightly looking up to Archer, before removing himself from the furs and standing up, just so he towered that little bit more over Archer, even though he was his brother he still wanted to show who was boss between them and obviously in camp.

'No because I would have personally been beside Robin and made sure he was alright' Much chipped in though Robin rolled his eyes and relaxed his pose slightly.

'Much... I do not need you to baby sit me, I am capable of fighting.

'How can you not expect me to worry, you nearly died not so long ago'

Robin groaned and moved past them all, even as Kate called after him.

'Will you stop holding that against me, I nearly died in the Holy Lands, but no body ever stopped me from doing anything after that did they...I am FINE! '

He turned back round to find them all staring at him. Kate ,Archer, Much. Surprise on their faces at his outburst but he saw guilt pass over their faces as well as though they'd only just realised how they'd been acting towards him . Mothering him. Treading carefully around him, and almost wrapping him up protectively away from the danger.

It was almost suffocating.

That was when he noticed the rest of camp were quiet.

'Where's John and Tuck?' He looked to all three of them in turn, choosing Much to get the answer from.

'No..I shan't tell you...I shan't..I shall keep quiet...'

Archer rolled his eyes beside him sighing. Much had a habit of telling him anyway.

'They've gone to find the Night Watchman..or whoever this new person is posing as her'

Kate slapped his arm gently whilst Much gasped, leaving Archer to defend the choice he made to tell Robin.

'Much you would've told him anyway, and me and Kate are here to stop Robin doing anything stupid...OI where are you going?!'

Archer called out the last part as Robin shook his head picked up his sword and bow and quiver from beside the camp floor and strode to the horses.

'I'm going to find them, and I think I have a pretty good idea of where they're headed, I don't need you or Much to tell me anything!'

With that he hauled himself up upon his chestnut gelding and rode out of camp as Much called after him, but Archer with a sigh held him back shaking his head' We follow him, but do not stop him, that would make him more persistent to see this through.'

The beautiful picturesque building that was Knighton Hall could be seen up ahead, Robin assumed that was were John and Tuck had gone to chase the Night watchman and the other two me.

For one Knighton had been Marian's home and though it ached for him to be back there when she was not, perhaps whoever the Night watchman worked out that they previous masked watchman would be seen more around Knighton then anywhere else perhaps. Though Robin knew Marian to be careful, even when she had been found out by him and then Guy.

Two, the area around in which the taxes had been taken was closest to this village then Loxley , Nettlestone and the others, if the thieves were really going to be giving the taxes back to the people then this would be the nearest one that they would go to first.. The load would be easier to move around by lighten the load of half the taxes here, especially if they were going for a getaway.

Robin spurred his horse on as he spotted John and Tuck walking around the village, he dismounted near the farm tying his horse to a post before sneaking round the houses watching what they were doing.

He crept out among the houses just as much as he dared picking out John and Tuck wandering nearest to Knighton Hall, they were speaking to a couple of villagers but as far as Robin could tell the man they were speaking to shook his head.

John looked irritated by the answer though, just as Tuck turned his head Robin's way meaning the outlaw had to duck behind the wooden shelter so as not to be seen.

Robin waited for a few moments before looking out again, noting that Little John and Tuck had disappeared but across the village hidden just in the right spot so that Robin could see a new duo move and knock on the door, dressed in cloaks their faces were hidden, but they handed something to the young women who answered it, looking around nervously before accepting the bag.

That was it..That had to be the taxes which meant..

That had to be the duo that had been with the Night Watchman .

This was his chance.

Robin went to move to confront the two, all he had to do was move across the path towards them, they had no where else to go at this moment. He had them!

That was before the sound of hoofs riding across the road directly to the village could be heard, not just one or two, but tons upon tons. The village was going to be surrounded in a matter of seconds by...

The Sheriffs men.!

Robin ducked back against the cottage wall lowering his head so as to look like a peasant or villager to the guards that rode past. He felt eyes watching him for a moment until the guards and eventually what must have been the new man to replace Guy rode into the centre of the village with all eyes on him now.

Robin looked up noting one of the strangers had vanished with a small cuss under his breath, he scanned the area for the second. His eyes picked out a tall figure moving over to the carpenters home the hood he wore shifting slightly so that half his face was on show. A man Robin could have sworn he recognised as an old friend that had long left Sherwood to continue to fight for justice in the Holy Lands.

'Will...?'

Authors Notes: Will Scarlett's back? Didn't he leave with Jaq to stay in the Holy Lands.. Is it true he has so then who is the other imposter and the one pretending to be the Night Watchman?.. and I know a lot of you were hoping to see if it was Marian, but dont worry next chapter will actually give some bigger action and answers . Stay Tuned.