Disclaimer to all things RH as usual...

Here's chapter 18! Thanks to everyone for their reviews. I also want to apologize to littlemissmaster, who did guess who the nobleman was. So virtual cookies for you! Enjoy!

"This is your brilliant idea?" Robin asked Allan, looking at the bundle of black and white fabric skeptically.

"Believe me, mate, no one is going to guess it's you." Allan laughed.

"Where did you get that?" Much asked incredulously

"I'm good with nuns." Allan smirked.

"Unbelievable." was all Much could say.

"But what about my beard?" Robin questioned the trickster, "There is no way the jailer will buy a nun with facial hair."

"No offence, Robin, but what you have isn't exactly you would call a beard. It's more of...well scruff."

Robin raised his eyebrows, "And you have the most accomplished facial hair?"

Allan stroked his goatee with an offended look on his face, "Look, I ain't got Little John's beard, but at least it's attractive."

"Do men always compare everything about themselves with each other?" Djaq butted in, as she had just arrived back at the camp. The other outlaws looked at her in a funny way when she spoke. She turned red, realizing what she had asked. She raised her hands, "Never mind, I don't want to know." she left to walk away.

"Djaq, before you go, can you at least tell me what's going on in Nottingham?" Robin asked calmly.

"Nottingham?" Much looked confused, "Why did she go there?"

Robin looked at Much thoughtfully, "I wanted to see if it was a trap or not. I couldn't take the chance that Marian wasn't actually in the dungeons." He turned his attention to Djaq once more, "How is she?"

"She's in the dungeon. They haven't hurt her yet, so I imagine they won't try." Djaq said, her colour finally returning to normal.

Much's forehead wrinkled, he was clearly perplexed, "So, you thought about it being a trap and you investigated?"

"Yeah, so?" Robin didn't quite understand why this was bothering Much so much.

"So?" Much practically shouted, "You actually showed some foresight and took a look around you. You've never really done that before. You always just fly by the seat of your trousers."

"Like I said, Much, I don't want to take any chances with Marian." Robin said seriously. Much could tell by the look on his face that he meant every word of it. Then, quick as lightening, his expression lightened as he asked Allan, "So what do we do about my 'scruff' then?"

Allan shrugged, "It'll be so dark in there you wouldn't know your own mother. If you are really worried about it, make some comment about the smell and cover your face with the veil. Nuns do that all the time."

"And you would know, wouldn't you Allan." Robin's face cracked into a smile.

Allan raised his his arms in defence, "Look, it's not totally what you think."

"Just half eh?"

Allan began to laugh, "Yeah, just half."

"So, you're going to say that you are visiting Marian from Kirklees in the middle of the night because...?" Will trailed off.

"I was informed that Marian was in here and she was a cousin of mine. I rode through the night to give her a last night of comfort in the Lord." Robin said solemnly, but winked afterwards. Will nodded in understanding, smiling a little himself.

"Master," Much began, "Have you given any thought as to what will happen to Marian once you rescue her? I mean, she will be unable to return to Knighton Hall, after all." Much was unsure as to how to ask the question that was really on his mind.

Robin's face softened as he didn't answer for a moment, "She'll stay with us." he said finally, "If that's alright with you lads, of course." he added at the end. From this he got a general nod from the other outlaws. It made the most sense to them to have Marian join their gang. Besides, where else would she go?

Robin looked up at the sky. It had been dark for some time now. It was time to begin their rescue. Soon Marian would be with them. He couldn't help but feel a little excited about it. Perhaps now that her obligations to Gisborne would obviously be gone...But he had little hope of that. She had repeatedly told him that she felt nothing for him, except that once, of course. Then again, she hadn't exactly said the words, had she?

"Robin?" Djaq's voice cut into his thoughts. "You said you needed this." she pressed a small vial in his hand. He smiled.

"Thanks Djaq." he looked at the outlaws. "Right lads, let's go get Marian."

RHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRHRH

Marian twisted her skirt anxiously, wondering what was going to happen. Her stomach was in knots at the thought of having to deceive Robin. She knew, in her heart, that she could never truly lie to him. Misleading Guy came easy, but one look in Robin's blue eyes...She couldn't do it.

All of a sudden she heard voices at the entrance of the dungeon.

"So, you say she's your cousin eh?" he loud yell of the jailers voice rang through the air.

"Distant cousin." A soft high-pitched voice answered. Marian's eyebrows furrowed Cousin?

"And you've come to..." he trailed off.

"Pray with her, in peace mind you." the second voice finished. Their footsteps got louder as they approached Marian's cell.

"How long will you be?" the jailer asked.

"I cannot say. You cannot rush prayer sir." the feminine voice. They finally reached the door to Marian's cell. "Thankyou, kind sir. I will pray for you." Marian wasn't sure who the woman was, although it was dark in the dungeon, she knew that there was something strange about her. The voice, she did not recognize and the clothes were that of a nun. Thankfully, however, the jailer took the hint and left Marian alone with the nun.

"Aren't you a little tall for a nun?" she asked, now slowly realizing who it was.

"Aren't you too pretty to be here?" returned Robin as he threw back his veil to reveal his Locksley grin, still bright in the darkness.

"Whose idea was this?" Marian asked, trying to keep the smile out of her voice.

"Allan's" he mumbled as he fumbled fumbled for something in his cloak and finally pulling out the vial Djaq gave him. "Stand back." he ordered. Marian did as she was told. Robin then poured the contents of the vial onto the hinges of the door. They hissed and quickly melted the metal causing the door to fall off. Luckily, Robin caught it before it could crash on the floor. Slowly, he set it down and held his hand out to Marian.

"This." he said, "Is a rescue."

And that's what I was afraid of. Marian thought as she forced a smile.

TBC

There you have it. Please review!