KNIGHTON HALL
"My fellow lords and ladies." Thornton was shouting and making a speech over the noise of the crowd in the hall.
Everyone fell silent, and Marian continued to worm her way through the crowd of other women, servants and nobles for the man she wanted.
Robin was stood near the back holding a tray of wine goblets.
They locked eyes as Thornton continued to speak.
"My wife and I would like to thank you for coming here tonight and celebrating this historic occasion with us." Thornton's voice carried on.
Marian stood beside her husband, holding her goblet of wine, both of them watching Thornton, who was stood in front of Alan and the other chosen earls as well as the Sheriff and Guy.
Alan was playing his part well, and from behind his mask his eyes almost shone triumphantly at being able to stand so near to Giz and the sheriff without being found out.
"Before me and my friends here discuss business, I would like to raise a toast!" Thornton lifted his goblet of wine.
"To myself and my wife Isabella, the new lord and lady of Knighton."
Everyone raised their goblets and toasted back.
"The new lord and lady."
Some mumbled it more quietly than others, and Robin watched as Marian kept up her pretence by lifting her goblet, but her lips never moved.
He moved the tray into one hand and behind the security of her back, gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
She swallowed and did not look at him.
As everyone clapped and Thornton and the other earls, Alan included, the sheriff and Guisborne also, moved down the hall out of fright, Marian turned to whisper to Robin.
"The meeting is taking place in the study, if it is the same place as my father's; we should go through here." She whispered.
Robin nodded and handed his tray to John.
"We will be back, stay alert and in disguise." He hissed too Much and winked before taking Marian's hand and leading them to slip through a small door under the stairs down a dark passage.
The hall had been re-built exactly as Knighton had, so every nook and cranny was identical, but this was brilliant for Robin and Marian, and a downfall for the black knights, as they knew where the passages were, unlike them.
Isabella stared over her goblet as the watched two figures, one she knew to be countess Rutland, and a servant, disappear down a passage.
She narrowed her eyes as they both removed their masks in the shadows where they thought they could not be seen.
She gasped when Robin removed his.
Her heart and other organs squirmed.
She moved forwards to follow them through the crowd, wanting to feel his hands on her again.
KNIGHTON HALL
Marian stretched up on her toes to peer through the small grate that looked into her father's old study form the passage. Robin was by her side, his shoulder brushing hers as they watched.
The Earls, Alan included, were stood around, looking at a plan Thornton had on the table.
"The gold is hidden in burial sites around the forest; there are thirty known, and many more waiting to be discovered." Thornton's hands moved over the page to demonstrate his point.
Vaisey was the only one sat, and looked almost bored.
"And your point is?"
Thornton straightened, "each one contains a mountain of un-owned gold… unclaimed… wasted… waiting to be sampled."
Vaisey's eyes narrowed.
"Prince John will get the money he desires, without any of us having to surrender any of our own." Thornton hissed.
Vaisey and Guisborne slowly grinned.
"Well then?" Vaisey hissed and Alan stiffened.
"Why didn't you say?"
"Robin?"
The soft hiss of a voice form close behind made both Marian and Robin spin.
Isabella stood close by, watching them.
Marian's eyes looked her over, as hers did her.
"Isabella." Robin stated, "What do you want?"
"Please do not hate me." She rushed forward, "You would never have helped me if you had known who I was, please… I told some truth, Thornton's wife was running away from her marriage, but it was me, rather than my mistress."
She was used to playing her emotions to entice men, and she knew she did guilty and upset well.
Her grief and embarrassed mask was convincing enough to fool Robin.
Marian saw right through it.
The small twitch of a smirk at the corner of the woman's mouth was enough for Marian to be sure they should not trust her.
"You are Robin Hood, you help people like me." Isabella stepped forward still, as if Marian was not there.
Robin did not move away Marian noticed, and her limbs felt like lead as she watched Isabella grin up at him.
"You love to help damsels in distress…"
"What do you think?" Thornton's voice grew louder inside the chamber, "Rutland?"
Alan did not look up at the mention of his title.
He glanced to see the other nobles staring at him and straightened.
"Well er… it sounds like a good plan."
Guy's eyes hardened, "Wait."
He knew that voice.
He drew his sword and Alan stood abruptly from his chair.
Marian and Robin spun to see what was happening in the other room.
Alan drew his own sword and forgot his pretence.
"Why so formal giz?" He grinned, "I was once your right hand man…"
Guy saw red, "Alan…"
Alan threw off his mask and bowed low.
"Hello."
"Guards!" Vaisey stood and screamed, "Hood is here, find him!"
Alan kicked the chair and pushed it towards Guisborne. It rolled over his foot and he screamed in pain.
Alan shot to the door just as Robin and Marian, as well as Isabella, emerged from the end of the tunnel.
All removed their masks.
Women started to scream and shriek as they raced and wormed their way through the crowd.
They were soon joined by Much and the others, as the lords and Vaisey shot from the room.
"Get them, stop them!"
"ISABELLA!"
The final shout came from Thornton, for the gang had reached the doors and climbed atop the horses waiting for most of the guests.
Isabella stopped in the doorway and threw one frantic look over her shoulder at her husband, his eyes murderous.
She could feel his hand on her.
It would be far worse than a beating, she was used to tortured love, to painful love and desires… but Robin, she looked at him… was it wrong to want such a man, even when he was with another.
Was it wrong to desire him such?
She could not see how.
Isabella rushed out after them and slammed the doors shut, bolting them closed.
She heard Thornton and other men slam against them, shouting and screaming, the loudest from Sheriff Vaisey.
"Robin." She rushed over to where he was mounted.
"Please, take me with you, keep me safe, hold me at arm's length away from my husband…"
Marian did not miss the infliction, and where as the rest of the gang had galloped away, she remained atop hers, staring at her husband.
"Robin." She had not missed how he was staring down at Isabella.
Robin swallowed but his hate bubbled in his mind at thinking over Isabella and her lineage.
"You made your choice when you lied to me." He said firmly.
"I am sorry, but I help those who cannot help themselves, you have the means and protection to leave…"
The doors to the manor were flung open and the guards and lords, swords drawn, piled out.
"Get them!" Vaisey screamed, "Hood, and the leper!"
"Let's go." Robin drew his reigns around and set off at a gallop, Marian followed, casting glaring eyes on Isabella, who did as much back.
"Isabella!" Thornton thundered.
Without thinking, Isabella grabbed her skirts, and set off at a sprint towards the dark forest.