A/N: Still not owning Robin Hood.


HERE'S THE THING: DOMESTIC BLISS…

Chapter Twelve: When Action Must Be Taken

Ava hurried back to the castle and met Anne arguing with a guard to be let out. Grasping her by the elbow, she turned her and led her back inside.

"You're not acting much like a maid!" Anne hissed as they marched on.

"Doesn't matter, they're going to find out soon anyway,"

"Why?"

Ava stopped suddenly and looked into the other woman's eyes, considering her, before her own became cold and hard and she walked on, Anne hurrying behind.

"I'm going to have to fight. You can help with the wounded but you cannot fight. If we manage to make it through this alive we will leave immediately. If any opportunity presents itself you must escape. C'mon we need to change out of these clothes."

They had reached Anne's rooms and they changed in silence, Ava into men's clothes and Anne into a plain, unembellished dress. It wasn't long before Ava was buckling on her sword and they were ready to leave. She had given Anne a dagger in case of emergencies but hoped she would not have to use it.

Hurrying down a corridor towards the hall, Ava glanced through a window and saw Will and Allan talking in the courtyard below her. Though she had shied away from witnessing this confrontation earlier, now she could not help but stop and watch them and was astonished to see Allan reach out a hand and Will, after a moment's hesitation, take it.

Reaching the hall, she saw that Gisborne meant to make a stand. Every able bodied man was being presented with a weapon and the women and children were being herded together for safety. Marian was already among them, helping where she could. She appeared preoccupied, not by the threat of invasion but by something else. Looking further into the room she saw Will helping some young boys with their swords and that he too was worried.

Hurrying down the stairs to lend what aid she could, Ava narrowly avoided coming face to face with Gisborne but he was too focused on his destination to pay her attention. He brushed past and grasped Marian by the elbow to pull her aside so they could talk.

Making her way through the crowds, Ava kept half an eye on them and was alarmed to see Gisborne go down on one knee. She exchanged a panic look with Will before returning her gaze to the pair. Gisborne had disappeared and Marian looked overwrought. Ava began to cut a path through the people but was hindered by the sight of Anne selecting and donning a sword.

Changing direction, trusting Will to talk to Marian, she advanced on the woman. Patience at an end and time running out, she held out an imperative hand for the weapon.

"I said you couldn't fight."

Anne's eyes flashed.

"You're fighting," she pointed out.

"You have to live, you're important. I'm not."

"Yes, you are! To these people you're incredibly important. You save they lives and give them hope,"

Ava shot a quick look around and saw that quite a substantial number of people were staring at her in recognition and respect. She sighed and drew Anne aside.

"That's as may be, but you are important to England. I promised I would keep you safe. Now, please – " she held out her hand again. Anne tried to stare her out for a moment but soon dropped her eyes, reluctantly unbuckling her sword and handing it over.

"Thank you," said Ava quietly. She was going to stay something further, something encouraging when she caught Will's eye over Anne's shoulder. She contented herself with briefly clasping her shoulder before hurrying to join him where they were to make their stand.

"What did Gisborne say?" she asked him whilst looking around to make sure that the men were standing where they would be most effective.

"He asked her to marry him, so he could take her to safety. I tried to get her to say yes, so would get away, but – "

"What?" she interrupted, fixing him with a wide eyed gaze.

"If she married Gisborne he could keep her safe and Robin would find her wherever she went."

"But she would be bound to Gisborne forever! It could never be undone! She doesn't love him, she loves Robin – how could you expect her to live apart from him?" There were tears sparkling in her eyes by this point and it was fortunate that Guy took this moment to stride past them, creating a diversion by coming back to fight.

Will was confused by the violence of Ava's reaction, not quite understanding why she felt so strongly about it. They stood in silence until a shout was heard. To them it was easily recognizable as Allan, warning that the army was closing in. Ava drew her sword and Will his axe.

He looked towards her and saw her checking the environment they were about to fight in before fixing her eyes firmly to the front, facing what was coming towards them.

"Do you trust Allan?" he asked suddenly.

She didn't turn towards him, instead bit her lip and answered in a voice of rigidly controlled emotion,

"Will, we may well be about to die. Do you want the last things we say to each other to be arguments about Allan?"

For the second time he was speechless, though he now seemed to be working himself up to declaring something. Ava glanced behind them and saw Marian, with one hand on Gisborne's arm as he prepared to fight.

"This is not a good day," she said quietly as she turned back. Allan walked up to join them in time to hear the words.

"What?" he asked, confused.

"This is not a good day to die."

Allan looked towards her to offer some comfort but turned away quickly, pretending he had not seen a single tear roll down Ava's cheek or Will take her hand in a strong, firm clasp.

"Ava – " Will began to say quietly.

"GISBORNE!"

All thoughts of anything else were wiped from their minds and their weapons were lowered. Before Will and Ava had a chance to gather their wits and hide themselves Gisborne came running past. Ava used her possession of Will's hand to get his attention and pulled him round to face her.

"Anne," she said simply, understanding grew in his eyes and he turned back to the castle to find her. Ava paused only to exchange a look with Allan before she followed Will and he hurried outside to meet the Sheriff.

Marian was still standing at the top of the stairs and Ava went to quickly grasp her arm as she passed. Marian stopped her, there was such a commotion around them there was little chance of them being noticed. She held out a sparkling ring and Ava took it.

"Tell him I love him."

Ava nodded once and carried on down the stairs. She took one more look at the ring, and there was no doubting its import, before pushing it into her pocket and turning to the next battle that faced them.


A/N: I think Ava spends most of this chapter thinking "MEN!!" and with just cause. Hope you liked and please review.