Chapter Five

Tristan looked into Robin's face and was quite scared at what he saw there, pure loathing. Robin looked like he wanted to rip the man dressed in black leather's head off with his bare hands. Tristan didn't know who the man was but the fact Robin so obviously despised him made Tristan dislike him before even meeting him.

"Who's that?" he whispered to Much.

"Guy of Gisborne," Much also had the same venom in his voice, "He owns Locksley Manor and Knighton."

"Oh," Tristan nodded but after being confined to the Abbey he did not know the significance of that statement. After a moment he asked, "Why does Robin not like him?" Much looked at the young boy and suddenly realised he looked much younger than his supposed fifteen years. He had childlike innocence in his startling blue eyes. Much decided it must be from his ignorance after living in the Abbey and thought no more of it.

"He is married to Marian," Much said, "And Marian and Robin were, or are, in love."

"Then why is she married to Guy?" Tristan was confused; he thought you married who you loved.

"It is complicated," Much said quietly, "I will tell you later." He was acutely aware of everyone listening to his conversation with the newcomer and felt uneasy with Robin so close. Tristan nodded.

"We'd better go," Robin ordered suddenly. He stood up and disappeared into the trees. Seeing Gisborne was too much. The other outlaws followed quickly and dissolved into the undergrowth. Much and Tristan were last to leave as Tristan took one last fleeting look back at Gisborne and then went after Much.

Back at their camp a Djaq and Allan fell asleep. Robin wandered off to be on his own and the others knew not to disturb him. Johnny and his father went off to practice with their quarterstaffs as Johnny still had quite a lot to learn about the difficult weapon. Just Tristan, Much and Will were left, stoking the fire and tending to the cooking meat. Tristan decided this was a good time to ask his previous question as Robin was not present.

"Why did Marian marry Gisborne and not Robin?" Much looked up from twisting the meat on the spit and sighed.

"Because," Much didn't know where to start, there were so many reasons, "Robin is an outlaw and Marian could not marry him without becoming one herself. Not that she didn't want to but she had to protect Edward, her father." Tristan nodded but still didn't understand.

"But couldn't she have just waited? Until her father like…died? If they were that much in love?" Tristan asked.

"No, although her father is dead now. The main reason is Gisborne forced her," Much scowled, "She was in trouble and he said he would help her if she married him." Tristan frowned, that didn't sound like a good basis for a marriage.

"So she said they would marry when the king returned and he did. He was an impostor but by then it was too late. They were married," Much finished sourly then added, "Besides, it wouldn't have been much of a life out here for her. Always on the run, I guess she's better off."

"Better off? Married to Gisborne?" Will interrupted their conversation, "No one is better off married to that man, except the devil."

"Will," Much knew he was about to go off on one.

"Anyway, Marian and Robin are still in love. They always were. I remember when I was about five and I would see them always together around Locksley. They were supposed to be betrothed from that age as they seemed so perfect for each other. But then Robin left for the Crusades and she was heart broken. But then she got over that and her sadness turned to anger at him leaving and no one knew if she would ever forgive him if he returned. She did though. She could never stop loving him and he her. There was even a rumour that they had a babe…"

"And that was all it was, a rumour," a voice cut into Will's explanation. Robin had returned and had heard the end of his speech. Will spun round to face him but unlike Tristan would've been he didn't look at all embarrassed.

"I'm not so sure," Will said but no one noticed his pointed look at the young, curious boy sitting beside them who resembled Robin and Marian so much.

What do you think? Do you like it so far? Please review. I will love you even more if you do!!!