THE FOREST

Her skirts were torn, her shoulders bare from her dress being ripped away in places.

Isabella was gasping for breath.

The dawn was breaking cold in so she could see her breath.

Yet she could still hear them behind her, Thornton, wielding a torch, screaming her name.

He did not need food or sleep to drive him, and his guards would not dream of stopping without instruction.

"Isabella!"

Thornton had his hate to drive him, and revenge, bittersweet revenge as she would scream out his name in the night, under his hard touch.

Punishment enough, punishment deserved.

She was stumbling now and, as she tripped towards a tree she realised she could not run anymore.

Isabella pressed her back into the bark and gently ran her hand under her skirt to reach her garter; she drew a knife, and let the silk fall over the bony limb once more.

She heard footsteps approach, more than one set almost silently.

Her heart hammered in her ears.

She screamed, hoping to take the man by surprise, and slammed her knife down towards the body of the person she found.

A firm hand clasped her wrist and she dropped the knife to the floor in surprise.

She suddenly felt so alive, so awake.

"Robin…" She gasped.

Robin stared at her, as his gang moved around them to watch, weapons ready, lest Thornton stumble upon them.

Isabella was quick to let her tears fall and she threw her arms around Robin's neck, pressing her face into his chin.

"Thank god…" She whispered.

Marian's heart swelled to fill her throat and her eyes were angry.

Robin pushed Isabella away gently; he was never rough with a woman.

"Are you alright?" He asked.

She nodded and wiped her eyes, "I know I lied to you Robin but please… he will kill me, please help me…"

She unfolded her hands and pressed one hand to his chest.

"I helped save your life." She whispered.

Robin nodded after a moment, "Yes you did."

"I can give you gold, the money the lords have dug from the mounds, I can bring it to you tomorrow, at knights glade… please, just don't let him hurt me."

Marian took a step forward but john grabbed her arm, as Robin was wrapped in Isabella's grip again, and her face was pressed to his neck.

She could feel his pulse pushing against his throat.

Robin pushed her away once more, and for all that she was used to getting her own way, Isabella's face fell at the thought of him not wanting her.

Why did he push her away?

Did she have to lay herself bare?

There was a connection between them, a deep rooted passion.

If she could feel it, why could he not?

"If you promise to work with us, and deliver the money so we can bring it back to the people, I will help you leave Nottingham, and I will send you to someone who can protect you."

Marian could not believe she was hearing this.

She was too angry to even speak.

Everyone else's mouths dropped open, and their eyes narrowed at Robin.

"I will, whatever it is that pleases you Robin, please…" She pressed her hand to his face, trying to physically connect them.

Robin stared into her eyes for a moment, before pulling her hand away from his face.

"Very well, tomorrow, noon at knight's glade…" He said firmly and turned to the others.

"John, please take Isabella back to the castle, while we deal with Thornton."

"Thank you." Isabella whispered.

Robin stepped around her and walked towards the gang.

John grunted in displeasure, "This way."

Isabella cast longing eyes back at Robin, a look that Marian and the towers did not miss. It passed Robin completely by.

"Right, we will follow Thornton and trap him, send him away, for good." Robin stated as Isabella and John disappeared into the forest.

Marian felt a burning hatred sear through her, and it flared when her husband crossed over to her.

She had not spoken, and he noticed almost immediately.

"Marian?" He walked over to touch her arm.

When his fingertips rushed her elbow she wrenched it away.

"Let's go." She said and turned to walk passed him after the others.

Robin narrowed his eyes after her, completely confused as to her behaviour.

SHERWOOD FOREST

It was not hard to see Thornton and his men, and from the gang's position behind a bush, they watched him walk right into their trap.

Will and Djac launched themselves from the tree branch, landing behind two guards and knocking them out flat.

Thornton spun with his torch, wielding it like weapon as Robin rushed forward.

His sword quickly swiped the torch from the man's hand and then his fist sent the man towards Alan and Much, who tied him expertly in four straight movements.

Thornton started to kick and scream, or he tried, but his gag and nods restricted him such.

Marian watched, holding her sword and saying nothing, as she rested the tip against the guard's chest that was unconscious.

Alan and Will picked him up and threw the tied man inside the wooden carriage they had taken from a digging site nearby, no doubt where the gold Isabella would deliver them was from.

They slammed the door shut and Robin leant against it to glare at the man.

"Well Nottingham is well rid of you Thornton, and don't even think about coming back." He snapped and smacked the side of the wooden structure.

Thornton's muffled and gaged screams increased as the cart started to roll forwards, being towed by a horse and a peasant driver.

Robin and the gang watched it go, cheering and congratulating each other before they set off back towards camp.

Marian was fuming silently, and wanted to wait until she was alone with Robin to have it out with him.
She turned to follow the others but he caught her arm.
"Whoa, wait a minute, what is wrong?" He asked as she glared up at him.
"If you have to ask then I will not answer." She snapped.
He narrowed his eyes, "What?"
"You cannot trust her Robin."
"Who?"
"Isabella." She spat.
Robin groaned, "You are jealous."
"Jealous!"
"What other explanation do you have, but do not worry, you are for more beautiful, and mine…"
"I am not jealous of her." Marian snapped and wrenched herself away from her husband.
"Have you not seen the way her eyes rake over you," She said firmly, "The way she almost lusts after you… oh…" She scoffed and looked away.
"What?" Robin demanded as she laughed without humour.
"Of Course you have seen it." She cried in anger, "of course you have noticed and no doubt committed it to memory…"
"Marian what are you talking about?" He asked angrily, "And I do not like it when women lust after me, not that that was what she was doing…. Marian she needed our help."
"I thought you could be the one man in England who would see her for what she really is." She shouted.
"Marian you do not know her; she needed our help deservingly so."
"Of course she deserves it." Marian hissed, "Because she wants you to think she does."
Robin glared at her.
"Why can't you see her for what she is Robin, she wants you, not your help you…"
"Marian." Robin snapped angrily.
"Why don't you hear me Robin?" She hissed, "Why can't you see what I am trying to tell you… you can't trust her… none of us can."
Robin said nothing as he stepped around her and stormed back towards camp.
He wasn't wrong.
He couldn't be, he was Robin Hood, Isabella was a woman, nothing like her brother… in need of his help, rather than his body.
Marian slammed her sword in its sheath on her belt and stormed off after robin.
He stride was so long and purposeful that he passed the gang.
Much, knowing something was wrong, almost scurried after him.
Djac and exchanged an uneasy look.
Marian kept walking, not really noticing when Alan stopped walking to wait for her.
The name burned like fire in her brain and chest.
Isabella.
"Hey?" Alan's voice was close and she looked up.
They were stood at the base of the hill, the camp looming up close by.
She glanced to see robin and the gang putting their weapons away.
Alan looked almost concerned, a look she had not seen on him many times before.
"You okay?
She shifted, "I am fine."
Alan shrugged and bit us lip, "it's got nothing to do wi' me but... I don't like Isabella either; she's more like GIZ than she lets on."
Marian knew that Alan was only trying to help.
She smiled sadly and gave his arm a friendly squeeze.
He smiled at her.
Robin watched from camp.
He watched as the pair pulled apart and they walked up to camp.
Alan seemed uneasy passing him, but did it.
Marian didn't even look his way as she approached.
"That looked friendly."
She turned her eyes on him.
"Excuse me?"
He leant back against the table and cast superior eyes on her, folding his arms.
"You know what I mean, you and Alan, friends?"
Robin raised an eyebrow.
Marian glared at him; she had no desire or need to explain herself to him.
"Even HE supports me more than you do" she said lowly.
Robin straightened, knowing she was once again referring to Isabella, and her doubt of him, his decision, and her motives.
She picked up a spoon and put her spoon down, batting hanging implements away that we're in her vision.
"I support you." he said firmly, "I just don't like you putting yourself in danger necessarily."
"Well you have no reason to do that now do you?" she cried, angry at him for trying to make out that she was the unreasonable one.
"Marian, do NOT bring that into it!" he snapped.
"Why?" tears were threatening her vision, "everyone knows it happened."
Robin stepped around her.
"I am not talking to you when you're like this."
"I'm sure Isabella would be more than happy to fill my spot." she called after him as he walked away from camp.
They needed food, and robin felt the overwhelming urge to fire arrows.
Much stepped around Marian to run after him.
Marian slammed the spoon down and put her head in her hand, furious over another argument with robin.
But this one had been Heartfelt, and it stemmed from what Marian was sure was pure Evil.
Isabella.

NOTTINGHAM CASTLE

"Robin sees you as an ally, strictly business." John spoke the words he wanted to be true, but he too had seen, where Robin had not, the looks of longing and lust Isabella threw his way.
He would not trust Isabella even if she were not related to Robin's enemy.
Isabella laughed loudly, and it was more of a cackle, this game was such good sport.
The thrill was always in the chase, never in the capture.
"There is nothing ever strictly business between a man and a woman." She told the man, a simpleton, not the suitable accompaniment for a man of noble birth.
She was noble, so was Robin…

So was his wife.
The mutual hatred already ran deep between them, and Isabella knew that the jealousy would be easy to mould and wield, like a weapon.
She mistakenly believed she had Marian figured out.
She believed that she had her already beat