A/N: Next chapter – all escape routes and stuff.

I don't own Robin Hood.

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It seemed that Ava had slept however, as she was jolted into consciousness by a hammering at the door. Struggling to wake she felt groggy and disorientated, only just being able to decipher a stern voice asking to see Marian. Or in other words – her. Catching her breath and trying to stay as silent as possible she hear Sarah protesting that milady was asleep and could not be disturbed, then the low voiced return.

It seemed for a moment that the visitor would force themselves in but they effected a sudden retreat and Sarah, closing the door, turned to her with eyes wide with fear and mouthed the word 'Gisborne'. Ava collapsed back against the bed, relief washing through her at their narrow escape. It was just the sort of thing that Will had been worried about and she would have hated for him to be proven right.

An hour later, Ava was standing in front of Marian's mirror dressed from head to toe in a noblewoman's finery. Her dress was raven black and corseted in at the waist. With it went a soft grey cloak and, most importantly, a heavily laced black veil. She'd managed to buckle on her sword so it appeared as nothing more than a belt. The rest of her clothes and anything Marian might need had been packed into a basket for Sarah to carry out of the castle as washing. She set out first, leaving Ava to toss the veil over her head and to search in the mirror for any recognizable features.

Satisfied, or as well as she would ever be, she grasped the handle of the door, took a deep breath and stepped out into the corridor. It seemed that word had gone before her that the
Lady Marian was to go to church, or perhaps it was down to her deep mourning that people stayed away.

All the sunshine from the day before had disappeared to be replaced by threatening grey sky. As she walked across the courtyard, skirts swishing against the ground, she felt herself being watched but steadfastly ignored the urge to turn.

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Ava entered the church as the first fat raindrops began to fall and found it empty and echoing but for one old man at the back. She paced down the aisle before kneeling at a pew towards the front and bending her head in prayer. And she did pray, it wasn't just an act. She prayed for Sir Edward's memory but also for Marian, for Robin, for Will, for John, Much and Djaq. And she prayed for Allan, feeling he needed her thoughts to be with him as much as any of the others.

Opening her eyes on this somber thought she looked up at the altar before her. The old man coughed and shuffled from his pew and out of the church.

That was the signal.

Ava stood as well and walked form the peace of the church to the bustle of Nottingham town. Making out the old man's hat in the crowd, she made to start after it when a hand caught at her elbow, preventing her.

She turned and looked up into the concerned gaze of Sir Guy of Gisborne. Afraid, she yanked her arm from his grasp, but it fell away easily so it seemed he had not recognized her. He spoke quietly.

"Please, Marian – let me help you."

She stared into his eyes for some time and saw such compassion there that he voice was suitably thick with tears when she pleaded in a quiet voice,

"Guy, please – "

He was looking at her more curiously now and it seemed he would lift the veil when he was distracted by the sound of guards' footsteps coming towards them. Casting an anxious look over his shoulder in the direction from then he looking down on her.

"Go," he said simply, and smiling slightly turned and left her.

Frozen to the spot for a moment, Ava stared after him, before recalling the plan and hurrying off through the crowds.

As she slipped through the castle gates she saw the old man before her again, though not looking quite so old now and rather more anxious. Seeing her he turned and strode off to where three horses stood, watched by two men. Taking the reins of one horse from the shorter of the two, the old man swung himself into the saddle with an ease that indicated his true age. The other two also mounted and as Ava came up to them the taller man reached down a hand to help her onto the horse before him. Settling herself and taking a firm grip of the horse's mane as they moved off, she turned back to see Will's eyes smiling softly at her from the depths of his hood.

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A/N: Hope you liked. Sorry it's a bit short but if I didn't stop there the next chapter wouldn't make sense. Next chapter is the last – a bit exciting!

Please review.