A/N: Sorry it took a while – here's the next chapter!

I don't own Robin Hood.

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Ava was finally recalled to a sense of her surroundings by the sound of Much shouting nearby. Taking a deep breath, she grit her teeth and squared her shoulders, determined not to let thoughts of Will cloud her judgment, and walked towards Robin's makeshift hospital to see how she could help.

Time passed and no breakthroughs were made. Both Djaq and Robin had permanent frowns as more people died and others were gripped by the fever. There was nothing to be done but stay with them, trying to calm them as they became more delirious then watch as they slipped into darkness.

The only change came when Marian arrived, bearing food and medicine. She was horrified but what she saw but greeted the outlaws with warmth, it was all Ava could do to summon a smile in return. The monotonous routine continued with no further developments until John came to announce food was ready.

Ava had to make an effort to drag herself from the position she'd been maintaining, her neck aching. She'd only just made it to the door before Joseph pushed past her to chastise Robin for not being quicker. When she'd spared him a thought, his creeping servility had been annoying her for most of the day and his flashes of anger were downright unnerving.

As she reached the hut were the food was being served he pushed past her again and began handing out bowls of soup with words from the bible. There was something strange in the man's face after Much said, "You make it sound like the last supper," that made Ava decide not to eat anything cooked by him. It was just as she set down her bowl that Robin stormed in, followed by Marian, and let off three arrows sending John, Much and Djaq's food flying.

"This is the last supper – for you, Joseph."

Cold anger flooded from Robin in waves, Marian wasn't far behind him.

"You poison people and then you keep record of their suffering,"

"What? That is revolting!" Much was sincere but a master at the understatement.

Joseph's defense did nothing to help him with the outlaws; John was positively bristling with outrage and had drawn himself up to his full intimidating height. The final blow came when, with a smug and eminently foolish smile on his face, Joseph proudly declared.

"There is no cure."

And they knew him to be right.

Suddenly he began to sprint for the gate, they tried to catch him but he was too fast and the guards were ready. The barricade swung open and shut before they even arrived.

"He tricked us!" Much was outraged.

"Clever,"

Out of all of them Djaq was the most likely to appreciate the artistry behind an enemy's plan – and Much was the least.

"Clever? He nearly poisoned us! What about these people?"

"Belladonna," John spoke quietly, as if thinking aloud.

"Bella-what?" Much was incapable of storing new facts in moments of stress.

"Belladonna? That's a poison!" Ava didn't really see what John was getting at.

"It works, for mushroom poisoning. Woodman's remedy."

They turned to Djaq, it would be for her to decide, she had the best knowledge.

"Poison to fight poison," she too spoke as if she was thinking it through. A small, determined smile suddenly lit her features and she ran to try and find some.

As they entered the sick room, poor Sarah was witnessing her young daughter's final moments as no parent should have to. When Djaq explained there was possibly a cure but it was a long shot and just a hunch she looked as if pained with the knowledge.

"Who's hunch?"

"Mine," John stepped forward. Though he clearly wasn't as learned as Djaq there was something in his face and his voice that made him dependable and trustworthy. After a moments indecision Sarah agreed to let them give Jess the belladonna.

At first it seemed as if John's conviction was misplaced. The poor girl was so still and pale. Then her eyelids fluttered slightly and suddenly she was awake and smiling.

Relief flooded through those watching and they shared thankful smiles. The rest of the sufferers were quickly administered with the cure and began to recover, much to everyone's joy. This happiness was short lived however. Robin brought them all back to the matter in hand,

"We have to stop Joseph before he poisons anybody else. He'll have gone into the castle. we have to find a way to get in after him,"

"Well, how did Will get in?" Marian's question was innocent enough but the others were appalled.

"Will? He's in the castle?" Ava fought to keep a reign on her panic.

"He is going to kill the Sheriff," Djaq spoke with such conviction that they all instantly realized it was the truth.

"We have to stop him!" Ava's panic was winning the battle for supremacy.

"We will, don't worry," Robin laid a reassuring hand on her arm. "Come on, I've got a plan."

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As she tied a white handkerchief around the lower half of her face her hands were shaking. She took a deep breath and strode out behind the others. The journey passed her by in a haze. She dimly heard Marian's voice, strongly accented, and they were through the barricades, through the gates and suddenly in the castle.

"John, Allan, you go down that way."

Ava only noticed Allan had joined them when Robin addressed him.

"What do we do if he doesn't come quietly?" Much voiced all their thoughts.

"Than we make him,"

"But what if he won't" Much wasn't giving up.

"Whatever it takes, Much" Robin tried to suggest what he meant without putting it into so many words.

"Whatever it takes?"

"Whatever it takes," Robin nodded and his voice was grim.

"We'd kill one of our own?" For the first time Ava agreed with the others in the hope that Much would just stop talking. She tried to block out what they were saying.

"Well, let's hope we have a choice. Come on. Ava you come with me,"

She followed Robin and tried to sharpen her wits. As she calmed a little she realized they were heading straight for the Sheriff's rooms. There were two guards standing at the door but they were swiftly dealt with. It was probably because Robin had taught her but there was a symmetry to their fighting. They both stepped back at the same time to let their adversary fall to the ground and paused for a moment.

"Right, stay here, keep watch,"

Robin stepped forward, threw open the doors and entered, leaving Ava alone in the deserted corridor apart from two unconscious guards.

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A/N: Hope you liked – please review.