I'm so, so, sorry for the super long delay

Hopefully this chapter will make up for it

Please REVIEW!! And enjoy 

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The four young teens ran as fast as they could, Robin was in front leading the way as usual while Marian tried her best to keep up with him and take over as lead. And Much and Eve lagged behind, well Much lagged behind and Eve stayed with him.

Laughing Robin said between breaths as they came to a clearing "I can't believe that worked, it was almost too easy"

Holding her sides Marian also came to a stop and replied "Yeh I know what you mean"

Much then staggered behind the pair and collapsed on the floor "This is not good… we need to go back… we are going to be in so much trouble" He said while gasping for air.

"Much stop worrying, my plan worked didn't it and if everything goes according to plan we will be back before we're missed" Robin beamed.

Marian raised her eyebrows as she coughed "Excuse me, your idea" Her stare was blank as she folded her arms across her chest awaiting an explanation.

Robin smile only grew "Yes my idea, you got a problem with that Milady" He patronised and pushed her a little, challenging her. She smiled mockingly, oh its on she thought.

"Yeh I do Mr know it all because it was my idea" She smiled pushing him, this time with a little more force then he had with her.

Robin pulled some hair away from his eyes and says arrogantly "But I pulled it off" he then wonders behind her and Marian a little flustered added quickly "With me!" Her head snapping around to stared at him.

Robin leans his head over her shoulder and whispers "Oh yeah!" He then picks her up bridal style as she lets out a very unladylike scream; she then starts to wave her arm around trying to gain some control. Robin only laughed at her vain attempts of self control, Much and Eve look at the couple in amusement "Robin put me down" She yells at the top of her lungs "As you wish Milady" And with a small smile he drops her like a sack of potatoes. Marian landed with a very loud thud, grabbing at her side she then hisses in pain. Robin looked down in concern and leaned forward and said "Oh Marian I'm sorry-" But he never finished his sentence because Marian grabbed his hand and pulled him down so he was lying on his back on the dirty floor.

Laughing at his stupidity for not knowing her true motives Marian placed both of her palms on Robin's shoulders and giggled, "Pin ya, fool!"

Groaning Robin pushed her away childishly "Hey let me up" Robin hated that triumphant look on Marian's face so as she gets up he tries to pulled the same trick on her. Aware of Robin's trick Marian uses his strength against him and pinned him back down again "Oh would you look at that" She mocked, "I pinned you again!"

Not giving up the battle Robin childishly rolls her over until she in pinned to the floor and he is sat on top of her. He noticed their position and blushed deeply. Marian laughs, "Well two can play at that game Hood!" They continue rolling each other over, there clothes becoming filthy and slightly torn. Unknown to them both though they were becoming incredibly close to a very steep hill.

"Robin, Marian look out" Eve yelled as they went tumbling down the hill. Although his head was throbbing from the fall Robin couldn't help but laugh at what had just happen to them. Marian on the other hand was unusually quiet, he tipped his head up from where he was laying and noticed her head was lying against his chest and her body was snuggled in close to his. Hearing on signs of life from her he gently nudged her shoulder, when there was no response he said in a harder tone then he usually would, "Marian" Getting more worried he said harshly "Maiden is everything alright" His voice laced concern. He moved her hair from her face as she looked up and him. Robin let a long sigh out which he didn't know he was holding.

While stoking her cheek she said to him "You haven't called me that in ages" She smiled resting her head back on his chest.

A little embarrassed he said flatly "So"

"So" She repeated "You should call me it more often" She then took his hand that was on her cheek and gave it a squeeze. Robin stared into her crystal blue eyes, hoping, praying that this moment never ended. The pressure that she had applied to his hand made him shiver involuntary. Suddenly the air around them became hot and stifling, and it was becoming more and more difficult to breath. Robin had always wondered what it would be like to kiss her. To kiss her rosy red lips, to feel her hands wrap around his neck and then run up into his hair and he also longed to feel her body fit to him like a piece, finishing off a jigsaw puzzle. Robin had had enough, he decided to put an end to his wondering and began to lean forward towards her and to his surprise so was she. But that's where all his luck ran out when he suddenly heard a huge thud from behind him.

Much and Eve had slide down the steep hill just in the nick of time to swash Robin's only dream, which was to kiss this gorgeous temptress next to him. Sighing aloud he then felt Marian's hand still in his and she had begun to pull him up off the floor.

"Oh my goodness Marian are you alright" Eve came rushing over and began fussing over Marian well-being. Eve noticed Marian's dirty and torn clothes and her attitude soon changed "Great thanks Marian, you know I'm the one who's gonna have to sewn them up later" She sighed.

Marian chuckled "Rather you then me" Turning to face Robin she couldn't help but smile at Much, just like Eve he was fussing over his master. Much was brushing Robin's shoulders to clear them from the filth that stained them. "Much just leave it!" He said abruptly making the smaller man jump, feeling guilty he added, "I'll only get dirty later" Clapping the smaller man on the shoulders he asked "So where the hell are we?"

The four of them took a moment to survey there surrounding "I… I think we're here" Marian spoke quietly, almost like she didn't want to disturb anything with the sound of her voice. It was dark and covered by thousands of huge trees and the only source of light came from the top of the steep hill, everything else down there was still, there was no noise at all, not even the sound of a cool breeze. The four of them didn't say anything for a few minutes they all just stood there like little statues nailed to the spot. Much was the first to speak "We should leave" He said bluntly, not even daring to turn away from the forest before them.

Ignoring his comment Robin slowly took a few steps forward "Come on everyone follow me" Both girls made their move to follow him into the forest, although Much looked like he needed a little more persuading. Just when Eve was about to say some comforting words to sooth Much's worry Robin put in "Look Much its simple you can either come with us and have a bloody good time or you could stay here… alone" Gulping Much suddenly found his feet and sped off towards the group.

Marian, Eve and Much all stuck to Robin like glue, it seemed like he was the only one not afraid of what might happen to them all. He had no fear where as the rest of them were letting their imagination take control and scare them senseless. They came to a small hill that over looked a huge graveyard it was filled with tombstones which was surrounded by overgrown grass, and the ground was filled with dead leaves. On some of the tombs laid weapons like swords, shields, bows and arrows, almost like a sign of respect to leave there chosen weapons by it. Although the place looked like it hadn't been untouched for years, obviously no one had been here for quite sometime, or no one dared to enter.

"Wow" Robin breathed.

"This is… well, this is"

"So cool" Eve finished for Much.

Marian stood next to Robin closer then she probably needed to and said "Its really creepy" Robin smiled then looked at her she was whiter then snow and she was shriving slightly, he didn't know if it was from the sight of the graveyard or the sudden chilly breeze that had picked up, but all he knew was that he didn't like seeing her this way. He then put a warm protective arm around her shoulders and pulled her close to him. She snuggled into his arms as soon as it was offered to her, which only made his smile grow in to a huge grin. He began thinking about what had happened earlier, or what didn't happen earlier. She was so close to him that he was sure she was leaning in to kiss him back, he sighed maybe it was just his imagination playing tricks on him. He only wished he knew her true feelings for him.

"I think we should go now" Much rushed "We've seen what's down here so now we can go" Much was literally begging his master now.

"Not just yet Much we've only just got here" There was a sudden sharp rattling noise and Much started to panic "Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" He whispered his hand being tightly held by Eve's.

"It's the ghosts, I knew it, I knew we shouldn't of come down here, we've disturbed the spirits" Much said getting a little paranoid, although that didn't stop Eve from moving a little closer to Much in fear that what he was saying was true. Even Marian had turned in Robin's embrace and snuggled her head deeper into the crook of his neck.

Robin merely laughed at him "Spirits Much? Really" He smiled at Much and then pointed above him "There's your ghost Much" There was a bunch of sticks tied to a hanging branch, that when the breeze blew in the right direction would make a rattling noise to scare away passing visitors.

"Oh" Much reddened in embarrassment.

Although Robin didn't mind Much making a scene which he usually did, this way he could hold Marian in his arms and tell her that everything is going to be ok, because he knew it would be.

Still chuckling Robin said "Come on lets go and check out over there" But then suddenly as if from nowhere Eve let out an ear piecing scream that made Marian cling to Robin for dear life. Not to mention poor Much who almost had an heart attack. But it was only Tuck who had come to spoil there fun.

"The only checking out you will be doing will be to check out of here" Tuck said aggressively.

"Crap" Robin huffed and Marian let out a huge sigh of relief.

"Robin you know full well that this is dangerous territory, how could you be so stupid-"

"Hey I not stupid, I'm just not a complete square like you" Robin accused stepping out of Marian tight hold of him.

"I don't have time to argue with you, we need to leave right now!" Tuck demanded as Much smiled "Finally!"

"No I'm not going anywhere!" Robin snapped, "I never get to do anything fun"

"And this is fun to you, other than being in serious trouble with your father, we are all in very real danger!"

"Danger" Robin laughed smugly "Where is this danger, we are totally, completely alone!" He yelled the last few words.

"Shhh!" The four of them said in unison "Please Robin don't!" Marian pleaded, with a frightened look on her face.

"You guys need to take a walk on the wild side and laugh in the face of danger" He then let out a mocking chuckle, but stopped when he heard something like a twig snap behind him. Spinning around he saw three people walking slowly towards them. One was a tall man with thick black curly hair that sat in a neat mess on top of his head; he had dirty grubby skin and light stubble on his chin. Another was in fact a women, she was tall and had dirty blonde hair that had been tied back in a simple pony tail, she looked like she had spend a little more time working on her appearance then the other man. And the last man, the obvious leader of the three was walking slightly a head of them. He was a lot shorter then the other two and he had shiny baldhead and was missing a few teeth. But altogether they looked like a bunch of poor grubby thugs. The bald one was the first to speak "Well, well, well look what we have here, Davina" He laughed bitterly rubbing his hands together "Its looks to me that we have some trespassers on are land"

"I think your right brother, what do you think Joseph" She smiled evilly as Joseph just laughed stupidly. Robin soon backed away and stood in front of Marian but behind Tuck, who had taken it upon himself to be the protector of the group.

"Look we don't want any trouble ok? We'll just go back from where we came from" Tuck said sternly trying to remain in control of the situation at hand. The five of them quickly turned around to make their exit.

"Woah! Slow down there a minute mate, we're not finished yet"

"And who are you" Tuck demanded

The short man smiled "Wouldn't you like to know"

"Not particularly" Robin butted in making his presents known, which earned him a slap on the arm from Marian.

The short man looked up "Oh this is too good" He moved closer to the group and stared right at Robin "And you must be-"

"The future King" He said proudly.

"Oh" The short man laughed "Full of spirit aren't we" The women, now known to them as Davina started to walk behind the group with Joseph, making Tuck anxious for the safety of the teens.

Davina laughed bitterly "Do you know what we do to people who come onto are land, kid?"

Robin spoke arrogantly "Ha, you can't do anything to me" Which got him another poke from Marian "Don't make it worst Robin"

"Oh I'm sorry to disappoint you precious, but you see my friend Joseph here" He turned and pointed to the deranged looking man behind him "He hasn't been with a women in such a long time" Marian could fill the bile rise in her throat at his disgusting comment. Which made Robin arms go around Marian's shoulders, almost like instinct "If you lay one hand on her I'll-"

"Your what kid, you can't do anything now"

Tuck looked at Much and Eve and he saw they had both gone a sickly pale colour and were shaking with distress "Well tough shit because we're going" Robin shouted pulling Marian with him. But the other two were blocking their exit "Oh I'm sorry, kid but you and your friends are never going to see the light of another day ever again"

"Well once we've finished with them" Added Joseph leering at Marian and Eve.

"Well there's only one thing we can do then" Robin sighed and looked at the group knowingly "We run"

"Run!" Shouted Tuck at the top of his lungs, the four teens ran off in different directions while Tuck stayed behind and did his best to fight them off. He had put up a rather good fight but in the end he had stumbled causing his capture. Joseph came up to him and hit him so hard he fell unconscious.

"For god sake Joseph leave that idiot and get me that prince!" The short man bellowed spitting in the process.

Robin and Marian had run so fast that when they finally stopped for air they realised that Much and Eve were no longer with them.

"Oh god Robin, where's-"

"I know, I know, alright don't worry we'll find them" He placed a hand on her arm to try and sooth her anxiety. He leant his back up against a tree while he caught his breath. Then they heard the sound of approaching feet. "Shit" He whispered, "Come on" He grabbed her hand and they began running again.

"There they are!" They heard from behind them.

"Quick run faster" Robin said desperately.

"I can't I'm not as fast as you… go on with out me" She said realising his hand. Still running Robin grabbed her hand back in his "I'm not going anywhere without you!"

"Its means nothing if they capture me, but you're the prince, the future King, you need to get to a safe place now and I'm just slowing you down" She said in a quick breath.

"If it wasn't for me you would be here in the first place" Robin shouted to her. They turned a sharp corner, and Robin seeing that Marian need to rest, he quickly pulled her towards a big thick bush, which was conveniently out of sight of those horrible thugs. As he sat down on the cold grass he pulled Marian down with him who then sat between his legs as he wrapped both of his arms around her. Both struggling for breath Robin lent his head on Marian's shoulder.

"I'm so sorry" He whispered, "This is all my fault"

She turned her head so hers was resting against his comfortably "Don't blame yourself I wanted to come, I had a choice" He stared blankly out in front of them and sighed interlacing there fingers "What if they capture us, I could do nothing to stop them from-"

"That's not gonna happen, I promise you" She stop him say the unthinkable.

"But-"

"No buts" She smiled.

He smiled in return "Thanks Maiden" Her smile grew as his arms tighten around her waist.

There was silence between the pair as Joseph and Davina came right up close to the bush, where they were hiding. They just stood there and listened for any source of sound. Marian held her breath as Robin pulled his legs back form the opening from where they entered. Then Davina and Joseph started walking in a different direction, muttering to each other how it was there fault and not the others that they had lost them.

Robin sighed in relief and rested his forehead against Marians shoulder "That was close" He turned to look at her and he notice silence tears were coming down her face "Hey every things gonna be alright you'll see" He whispered in her ear. She let a sob escape her lips "I'm scared Robin, I'm really, really scared" She whimpered, his heart broke in a million pieces at that very moment "Turn around and let me hold you" He said while sticking out his hand, she did so slowly, she was very fragile at this point. A moment ago and she was fine, she must have been suppressing her really emotions for a while now. He gently rubbed her back in a circular motion then said "Lets get out of here" Taking her hand once more they quietly began to make there way back to the other end of the graveyard.

"Going somewhere are we" The short bald man was back a toothless smile on his face "Joseph, Davina get them" He howled and then from out of nowhere the pair jumped out and started running after Robin and Marian.

They ran as fast as they could, the shear terror of being caught drove them faster. But in her haste Marian tripped and fell down hurting her ankle. Robin stopped immediately as Joseph was right on her tail, he was almost upon her when Robin suddenly lashed out to protect her from any harm. Taking this as an opportunity Marian limped as fast as her legs would carry her. Robin soon caught up with her and took her hand again to pull her along. But as they were running they didn't realise that they had come to a dead end.

"Bullocks" Robin hissed turning toward Marian he sighed and put out his hands out for her "What!" She demanded, then realised what he meant "No, no way I'm I leaving you hear alone!"

"You've got no choice now climb on to my hand and up the wall!" Robin commanded.

"I won't reach"

"You'll have to try" He yelled impatiently turning around he saw the three thugs walking slowly towards them, knowing full well they had caught there prey.

"Ha, ha nowhere else to run" Joseph sniggered.

"Playtimes over kids" Davina chuckled darkly while the bald man just smiled and said "Oh look isn't that sweet he's trying to save the girl"

Marian tried her hardest to reach to top but it was too high "I'm sorry Robin, I can't reach it" She sighed jumping down on her one good leg "What are we gonna do" She whispered in his ear. He said nothing to her he didn't even look at her, he just pushed her behind him and in response she wrapped her hands around him and put her head between his shoulder blades. Her tears began to freely fall again at the understanding that his was it for them.

Laughing the thugs made fun of Robin for putting himself in front of the girl, but there laughing stopped when they heard the sounds of approaching feet "Davina go see who that is" The short man said curiously, him and Joseph were still edging towards the pair.

"Any last word, my lord" He mocked a bow and laughed at Robin sinister expression, the short man tilted his head "What about you precious?"

"Look just fuck off and leave her alone!" Robin shouted at him. The shorter man laughed heartlessly as Davina returned, "It's the Kings guards and they're coming this way!" She exclaimed worry colouring her face.

And without a second thought Joseph said, "I'm out of here"

"Me too" Davina followed

The shorter man turned back around to face them "This is not over" Then he too ran off before King Richard could appear and arrest them.

Robin turned back around to face Marian he then embraced her tightly letting her fresh tears stain his top. He buried his head in the crook of her neck while rubbing her back to try and calm her nerves. He then pulled her back out of the hug and looked deep in to her sea blue eyes "Every thing is fine Maiden" He assured her while caressing her cheek with his warm hand. But her tears and sobs didn't falter; even though the approaching feet were becoming louder the noise didn't seem to sooth her at all. Tears started to form in the back of Robin's eyes, he had done this to her, he had put her in this situation and scared her half to death and he could do anything to comfort her. He leant forward and placed a warm loving kiss to her forehead, which seemed to have stopped her uncontrollable crying for a moment or two. But they continued even when King Richard and his men appeared; Robin just brought her back into a protective hug.

Richard came up to Robin with a disappointed look on his face and asked, "Is she alright?" Robin looked at his father and winced at his facial expression, he answered his question by simply shaking his head of course she wasn't alright, did she look alright Robin thought a bit annoyed at his father's stupid question.

"Right men lets move out" Richard shouted. Robin turned to see Much, Eve and Tuck standing around with a load of guards. Robin then took Marian hand and pulled her to them. Robin wasn't surprised to see that Tuck had broke his arm and had blood dripping from an open cut on his forehead, he would do anything to protect them and he had put them all in danger. Robin sighed and bowed his head in shame. This was a day that he would never forget.

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And in 4,137 words later the chapter was completed lol!!

I hoped you liked it!!

I'm going away this week end but the next chapter should be up soon

Let me know what you think 

Robyn

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