Robin nodded as he separated from Djaq in the market. He was headed to go find Marian, and Djaq was off to meet Allan. Marian was to meet him by the butcher's stall, and he was running a bit late.

When he arrived, she scowled at him from underneath her hood.

"Could you have taken any longer?"

"I could try. Next time I'll keep you waiting til night fall."

"Very funny. Look, I only found out a little bit. They're being very hush hush about this whole matter. They brought in a villager, I'm not sure from which village yet, and seemed to be intimidating him into something. They sent him off the way he came with a bag full of money, and another bag full of food."

"That is disturbing. They must really be serious about whatever trick they have up their sleeves, if they're giving things to the poor. Which way did he come from?"

"I didn't see. All I could tell is that he was a farmer, but that doesn't narrow it down much, does it?"

"No, it doesn't. Thank you, Marian."

"Good-bye, Robin. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow." Robin smiled as he kissed her hand gently.

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Djaq felt her stomach twist as she waited for Allan.

She didn't want to know his reaction when she had said her piece.

After a few moments, she heard foot steps and saw him walking up the alley, a huge smile on his face.

"Hello, sweetheart." He leaned on the wall beside her. "Glad you came to see me."

"You won't be when I am done."

"What's the matter, Robin changed his mind?"

"No, Allan…I must be honest with you. And you must, please, be rational about this."

Allan punched the wall beside Djaq's head. She gasped and jumped backward, preparing to run.

"It's Will, isn't it? I knew it! I bloody knew it!"

"Allan, please…"

"Don't 'Allan, please' me, ok, Djaq! You can't just lead people on like that! I really care about you!"

"I know, Allan, but maybe you didn't care as much as you thought. If you had, you would never have betrayed us."

"Don't start with that. Now you're the betrayer." Allan exclaimed, bitterly. "I was giving it all up for you. The lands, the gold, the glory."

"I never asked you to! And you chose to trade me for it in the first place!" Djaq stamped her foot. "How can you expect me to trust you? Every action has a reaction, Allan. Everything we do has a consequence."

"So, you're saying, if I'd never switched sides, we could have been together?"

"There was a very good possibility, but your actions helped me to see that I could not depend on you."

Allan thrust himself back against the wall, shaking his head. "I've never cared about anyone this much before in my life, ever! I think about you all the time, I dream about you! I look for you everywhere, even places I know you won't be!"

"That, Allan, is infatuation, something you will get over in time, no matter how strongly you feel now."

"How could you choose Will over me? He's barely a man!"

"I am just as young as he is! And you are not much older! It isn't about age, Allan, it's about maturity, and integrity. I am not saying you do not have these things, but it appears you have some things you need to sort out. On your own. I will always be here if you need me. But please don't let this affect your decision to help us."

Allan slid down to the ground and sat, looking down sadly. Djaq crouched down beside him.

"There is someone out there, who will love you more than I could, who will provide everything that I can not. When you are ready, you will find her."

"I just needed something to hold on to."

Djaq extended a hand. "You can still hold on to me. You are still my best friend."

Allan looked at her hand for a moment, and Djaq was afraid he would rebuke her entirely.

"All right, love, but if he ever hurts you, you know who to call." Allan said as he grasped her hand and pulled her into a tight hug.

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