Disclaimer - I do not own Robin Hood or any recognisable characters

"King Richard is your father?!" Allan exclaimed in shock. Robin just grinned happily.

"I thought I recognised you!" He spoke cheerily towards Avalon. Much turned to him with a look of disapproval plastered on his face as the others in the gang continued to be speechless.

"Robin! No one is meant to know! Do you not remember what the King told you?" Much spoke with worry. Robin looked over at Much wearily.

"Much, she just told us herself. What do you expect me to do?" He shrugged and Much sighed in exasperation. Will watched her carefully and, sensing his stare, Avalon met his gaze and smiled at him. He blushed, embarrassed at the knowledge he'd been caught.

"Sorry, Princess, we won't tell anyone, you do not need to worry." He spoke softly, not wanting to embarrass himself further. To his words, she rolled her eyes and groaned in annoyance.

"Please, no "Princess", no "your Highness" or "your Majesty". Just call me Avalon." She pleaded, meeting the eyes of each outlaw as she looked around the group. They nodded in agreement to her words and Robin stood, ready to help her up.

"Come on then. We'll take you back to our camp for now." He smiled as she took his hand and pulled her up carefully. A gasp of pain turned Djaq back to the girl who was clutching her side again.

"Let me see." She murmured, reaching to her. The young maiden slowly removed her hands, not daring to look down as she heard angry mutterings from the outlaws. Instead she chose to look at Robin, who was somewhat distracted by glaring darkly at her side. With caution she looked at what the fuss was about only to pale at the side of blood quickly staining her tunic dress.

"John! Carry her, we'll get there quicker. Djaq, do you think you'll be able to heal her?" The leader commanded the large fighter before speaking quietly to the female member of the group, so as not the frighten the injured women.

"I think so. But it will be painful for her."

Avalon was quickly swept of her feet by the tall man, feeling surprisingly comfortable in his strong grip. Her head span as they took many turns left and right before they reached the hidden camp. She was immediately placed on a bed Djaq had guided John to.

"Everyone leave now. I'm sure she shall want her privacy." Djaq spoke as she moved about the area, lighting candles as the sun vanished from the sky. She cut at the fabric of the dress to reveal a deep cut about 4 inches long and began to wash the wound out. Avalon let out a small whimper as the cut was cleaned, the stinging becoming unbearable. It was a long, tedious process, but one that had to be done to prevent any infection. She then applied a thick paste she had stored away in case it were needed.

"I'll need some help for the next bit. Is there anyone you specifically want?" Djaq spoke to the girl who lay quietly, trembling on the bed.

"Robin." She whispered through the pain. Djaq nodded and walked over to the curtain she had drew across to give them privacy and motioned for Robin to come through. The blonde walked quickly over to her bedside and took her hand, giving it a light squeeze.

"What do you want me to do?"

"I need you hold the thread and clean up any blood that the stitching causes or it can get infected." The Saracen told him, whilst she handed him a wet cloth. Robin nodded his understanding and Djaq began on the stitching.

Avalon hissed in pain. She needed to distract herself. She looked around before settling her eyes on Robin.

"How am I familiar to you? How did you know I existed? No one knows but the people in the castle." She asked him, watching for his reaction. He tensed slightly at her question and hesitated in his reply.

"Do you remember your personal guard from the past five years? The one who protected you from the gang who wanted to sell you to the enemy?" Robin asked her quietly, not meeting her eyes.

"Yes, he was my best friend, I never saw his face though, always wore his hood up. Then he went to save my father and never returned.." She turned wide green eyes on him. "It was you." She breathed. Robin nodded once again.

"Why? Why did you not come back? I needed you. The Black Knights found out you had gone and came for me." She whispered. The outlaw winced, he regretted not coming back, but he could not find her.

"What happened?"

"They came at night, about a week since you'd been gone and attempt to kidnap me. The castle guards fought back but they were slow. They gave me this." She raised her right arm towards him, pulling her sleeve back to reveal a large scar that went the entire length of her arm. "I almost died."

Robin closed his eyes to stop the tears. He hated himself for not being able to protect her. She had become a little sister to him. But he couldn't show weakness, it wasn't him. "Robin, look at me. Please"

He slowly opened his eyes and met her gaze. "I'm so sorry." She smiled at him.

"Don't be. I'm here. I'm alive."

"You won't be if you stay here." He pointed out. Djaq watched the exchange from the corner of her eye, shaking her head at her leaders stubborn attitude.

"If I leave here I won't be. I can't go back, Prince John is awful. I'd rather be an outlaw, I can help. No one knows who I am, I could infiltrate the nobles!" Robin glared at her.

"Like hell you will! I forbid it!" He fumed at her and she narrowed her eyes at him. "Because of me you've been injured once, I won't let it happen again."

"Then let me stay. You can look after me here." She spoke defiantly. Robin sighed and didn't comment again. The silence remained for the rest of the stitching only broken by Djaq saying it was done. She and Robin then helped her out the room and over to sit by Will near the fire.

"So, how old are you then?" Allan asked her instantly. She laughed at his eagerness.

"I'm seventeen." He gaped at her answer.

"Could've fooled me." He shrugged nonchalantly. She grinned at him before she asked if anyone else had any questions.

"Why do we not know of you?" John asked, his voice low and intrigued. Avalon's eyebrows creased together as she thought how to word her answer.

"That's none of your business!" Much exclaimed indignantly. The girl looked at him in surprise before motioning it was okay to tell them, stating if he and Robin trusted them then so could she.

"I was an accident. My mother was just passing through our town one night and my father fell for her instantly. I was the outcome. She left immediately after however and my father brought me up on my own. I was kept a secret, one because of how I was conceived and two because he believed I could be used as a bargaining chip against him, so it was for my safety."

Once she had answered the questions put towards her, she and the others relaxed into a comfortable conversation. Yawning she soon began to slump against Will, who tensed as she leant against him. Robin noticed his discomfort and picked her up carefully, placing her in the spare bed nearest to them. As he tucked her in he heard the others ask Much about the connection to Avalon the both of them had. He replied simply, not letting anything on.

"She's special. He'd die for her. Thinking about it, so would I. She may seem brave but she's venerable."

"Robin, will she be staying with us?

"Yeah, it's the safest place for her. She can also be of use to us." He spoke to his friends. Over on the bed Avalon smiled softly at his words, falling into a deep sleep. She smiled softly, feeling more safe and at home than she had in years.