Sorry for taking awhile to post this, I hope you are still reading! Thank you for the reviews, still want more though. Thank you to followers of my story also, many thanks! It is still a little short but, getting there. I have been busy with beginnings of coursework and the sorts lately. Bit of Allan in it also, haven't heard much from him in this story, hope it pleases some of you!

Anyway enjoy and please, please, please review!

The morning in camp was tense, as was every morning they prepared for a mission. A small breeze was drifting its way past the tired camp mates, creeping towards their bare necks and nipping fiercely at their dry cheeks. The autumn was beautiful and it provided a fresh relief, but it was leading up to a cold kind of hell for those living in the forest.

John pulled his solid, wooden staff down from the edge of his cot. Much often muttered about him sleeping with it but, as John had stated, living in the forest, you must be prepared. Much himself took his sword and handed Djaq hers from where they sat, hooked against the camp wall. Will sought out two small axes, placing them at his sides and Robin sorted through his assortment of arrows. Just in case.

Before they knew it they had little, but warm food in their stomachs and were making their way towards the North Road.

'Will, Djaq, you go hide behind the set of rocks on the right side, John stay here and me and Much will go shelter in the bushes,' Robin ordered, all scouting towards their sought out positions.

Will and Djaq were the first to see the carriage from their position, peeping over their perch at the advancing object.

'Looks strange,' Will whispered, staring at the uniquely made carriage as it approached them, wondering how odd and out of place it looked among Sherwood Forest.

'It is Saracen,' Djaq corrected, her eyes focused intently on the curtains that were covering the content of the carriage.

Will instantly regretted calling it strange, but a quick look towards Djaq proved she wasn't offended. There was an altogether different look covering her face, a look that made the contours of Will's own face crease in worry. Djaq's eyes were wide and her lips parted in what looked like shock.

'What is it?' He followed her eye line back towards the transportation and noticed the cream coloured curtain twitching as a man, with skin as tanned as Djaq's, peered out at his unfamiliar surroundings. Will snapped back to question Djaq, her face returned to how it had been before the sighting of the foreign stranger.

'Djaq,' she didn't flinch. 'Who it is?' He noticed the whites of her knuckles gripping the cold, grey rock they were perched uncomfortable against. She turned to him, a questioning look of her own, and a barrier to her real feelings Will guessed.

'How am I supposed to know?' She vented, running off in the direction of the suggested meeting point, leaving Will to follow behind bewildered.

The gang formed together under the slowly changing trees, taking in the target they had just inspected.

'So who is it,' Little John was the first to ask, a curious look thrown towards Robin.

'It's defiantly Saracen, I know that,' Much offered.

'Djaq?' Robin's eyes feel upon the small Saracen woman.

'Why does everyone assume, because I am Saracen, I know,' she shrieked as she forced her way back to camp, leaving the four men to stare at her sudden mood swing.

'What is her problem?' Much protested, unheard.

Will pondered for a second whether to tell Robin about the weird experience back at the rock, deciding against it; maybe Djaq was just surprised to see someone like herself in Nottingham. Then again, maybe his earlier feeling of dread signalled something was about to unravel.

The Castle

'My Lord,' Gisborne interrupted, 'your guest has arrived.'

'Good, Gisborne, good.' The Sheriff paced out towards the court, embracing the outside air and grinning at his foreign guest.

'Salil, how was your journey, outlaw free I hope?'

'It was amicable,' the Saracen replied, a straight look on his face, 'is there somewhere we can talk business?'

'Yes, yes this way,' the Sheriff replied, directing his guest towards the Great Hall, catching Marian asking Guy who and what this guest was.

'Best stay out of this, Missy,' the Sheriff warned, 'or, who knows what will happen, yes?'

Marian flinched backwards as the Sheriff spat words into her confused face. Maybe she should have taken Robin up on his offer, this was getting intolerable.

The Great Hall

'You do realise there will be a price for my help?'

'Of course, I will have the payment for you in a matter of hours,' The Sheriff smirked.

'Good.' Salil commented.

Marian could hear them clearly from her listening point behind the back entrance to the hall. She needed information to give to Robin and this was easily the safest way to gain it.

'I have my men visiting Nettlestone and Clun this very moment,' the Sheriff replied.

'So that was where Guy and Allan had stormed off to earlier,' Marian mused to herself, 'but why?'

'When should I expect the discussed men?'

Marian was struggling to hear now as they moved to the other end of the hall, speaking in hushed tones. She needed to find out who these men were and how the Sheriff was planning to pay for them.

'When I have guarantee of payment,' Salil smirked, 'then we shall set about our business.'

The Sheriff just nodded in anticipation.

Outside NettlestoneVillage

Much and Djaq were stood invisibly behind one of the small cottages as they watched the events unravel before them. After Djaq had calmed down and apologised to the gang Robin, thinking it would do her good, sent her and Much to carry out a drop off. They had just arrived when they noticed the Sheriff's men, the few that were left from recent attempts to drag out Robin Hood, and Allan scouting the village. The pair quickly dodged behind the nearest building and huddled the wall, away from sight. They couldn't hear what was going on but, the knowing rattle of coins suggested the villagers were being pushed for money, taxed.

'I thought the taxes were collected two days ago?'

'They were,' Djaq replied to Much's question.

'What do you think they are planning?' She finished.

'Should probably ask the Sheriff's new friend,' Much angrily muttered.

'Ssh!'

Much pulled a face at Djaq before realising she was trying to listen to the couple of villagers wandering past.

'They want our money and now our homes as well,' one girl groaned, sighing at her empty purse.

'Apparently, the castle is not big enough to house all the new men,' her friend replied, 'not English I hear…'

They had walked out of ear shot.

'What men?' Djaq turned to Much who was also looking at her in confused wonder.

'Back to the camp?'

Allan's POV

This was not the way Allan had planned to spend the day when he was rudely awakened at a ridiculous time, being dragged from his bed by Guy. 'Important work,' he said, 'taxes, something in it for Allan.' Allan cursed himself for being so easily bribed; it was what had gotten him into this situation in the first place. At least with Robin he could have some say; Guy just pushed and shoved him as he pleased.

'Please Sir, you took all our money two days ago,' a peasant woman pleaded. Allan looked into her exhausted eyes as she pushed her starving child at his feet. He looked at the ragged toddler, her use of him as emphasis on her situation was certainly working. Guilt ripped through Allan as he looked at his own black clothing, why was he here? It was too late though, he was in too deep, and he had to take these people's money or, suffer himself. Maybe he had become a monster, still thinking of his own outcome.

'ALLAN, GET ON WITH IT!' Guy bellowed as he approached the small gathering of people. This spurred Allan into action as he took the taxes and threw the full bags towards his horse, ready to take back to the infamous Sheriff of Nottingham. He didn't know the real reason for it; he only knew there was a Saracen visitor and a whole bunch of Saracen men coming to stay in the villages.

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