(This is a tad bit short, I know, but next chapter will be uber long, and if I get reviews I'll post tonight! [I already have it pre-written because I wrote that part before I actually began the story, its what made me want to write this in the first place]. As usual I don't own anything, but enjoi and review for an update! Because next chapter they meet, and shit goes downnnnnnnn)

5: Tying up Loose Strings

"What happened to you? You look like death!" Robin exclaimed as he noticed his cousin come through the trees with her hair plastered to her face and the soot staining her clothes. By the time she had arrived back it was morning of the day after the great raid, the raid where, against most all odds, the outlaws had successfully stolen a large amount of money and rum. Not to mention a Friar!

"Usually you don't say that to a woman, especially in the morning unless you want to be on her bad side." Langley grumbled unamused, wringing out all the clothes she could as Robin approached her.

"Well, then you look fine as always!"

Langley rolled her eyes but cracked a smile, "So the raid went well?"

"Yes, where'd you disappear off to?"

"I went to a town called Greenburrow in search of new robes, as it is I found the Sheriff's shipment and took it as my own. Spade should have arrived with it-"

"He did, but why do you look like, uh, that?" He gestured to her soot-ridden clothes, her nearly black cheeks, and extremely soaked hair.

"Long story short, the Sheriff found out and surrounded where I was at, I had to hide in the chimney. Then…. He burnt the village down."

"He what?"

Langley didn't want to repeat it, instead she hissed between clenched teeth, "You heard me, now don't make a big deal of it. We may have some more people joining us. You should be thanking me."

Now it was Robin's turn to roll his eyes, which he did. "Whatever you say cousin, just make sure to get the robes, Fanny is using the animal pelt for her baby which was born last night."

"Boy or girl?"

"Boy."

Langley nodded, parting ways with Robin to retrieve her clothes. Or more accurately the Sheriff's clothes. They were hers now though so that specification didn't matter anymore.

She found them neatly laid out in her makeshift tent, Spade greedily drinking from a pale of water next to it. She pat her horse in which he acknowledged her with w whiny that was drowned out by his drinking, and entered, flopping immediately upon being in complete privacy. She stripped down to her undergarments and put on her final change of clothes. She had brought three when she came, but one had been shredded from an unknown cause, the other stained, and now she was on her last pair.

She glanced at the Sheriff's extravagantly made black, gold, and silver robes after she pulled her plain brown tunic over her head, and a smirk etched onto her face as an idea popped into mind. He had very fine clothes, it would be a shame if they were only used to show off when they had potential to be so much more.

Picking up a needle and thread, Langley propped herself up against the crate she had used for a table in her room and began reforming the Sheriff's clothes to her liking.

Langley had fallen asleep, having been so entranced in her work she'd actually forgotten to eat, with her work in her hands, her thumb and fingers bleeding from the many failed attempts to string the needle through the robes.

"Wake up!"

Langley shot up in bed, drool dripping down her cheek, her new uniform in hand. "What? Huh, where?"

Robin stared dumbly at his cousin, silently wondering how she was so smart when she acted as she did now constantly. Then again, he was like that to. "Marian has sent for you by letter-"

"Did you read it?"

"You were barely asleep and you managed to catch that?"

Langley yawned and got to her feet, stretching out before giving Robin a sleepy smile. "I may be childish but I'm not stupid. Hand me the letter." Robin complied, and with half opened eyes she read it over, yawning every ten seconds or so before she dropped it and cracked her back. "Well, looks like I'll be going to Marian's home, any inkling of why she needs me?"

Robin shrugged, "Maybe she needs man advice on how to get together with me?"

Langley glared at her cousin with a 'really' look before leaving the tent, approaching Spade, whom was currently kneading the ground with anticipation. "If she wanted to do that all she'd have to do is kiss you on the cheek, but from what I can tell you've already gone farther than that."

Robin's eyes widened as he ran after her, "What? How'd you know about that?"

Langley mounted her horse and took the reins, "I'm a girl, I know a lot about guys." She winked and nudged Spade into a canter, leaving a confused Robin in her dust.

She rode leisurely to Marian's home, letting Spade trot there while she played with her bow, engraving new symbols into the hilt as she did so. She had almost fallen asleep again when the castle came into view, and she increased the speed until she was sitting in the yard her, Robin, Duncan, and Azeem had been in for a short period of time almost a month ago. It seemed a lot had changed since then, but she didn't dwell on the past, instead dismounting and entering the house. "Marian?"

There was no answer, and Langley noticed that there was almost no lights on at all. The house was gloomy and not at all lively, but the silence that hung in the air was more significant than the lacking light. "Marian? Hello? Anyone?"

Still no answer, and Langley was starting to get antsy. She drew out her sword and climbed the stairs, searching every room but to no avail. She came across a room where a chair was on its side, the tablecloth was moved, and a bowl of red powder was cast over. Langley took a handful of the powder and sniffed it, cringing at the extremely spicy scent that hit her senses. She took another step, her eyes squinting in the darkness when she noticed a scrap of black clothing on the ground. She picked it up and brought it lose to her face, and immediately the symbol registered in her mind: it was the Sheriff's symbol.

Langley threw the cloth on the ground and climbed onto Spade, her face was lit with anger, and the last thing she had on her mind was going back to camp, what she needed to do now was get Marian back.

-0-

"Did you do it?" A maid was tightening the restraints on the Sheriff's armor as he spoke to Gisborne, his hazel eyes assessing himself in the mirror.

"Yes, one of my men sent the letter. I'm sure she'll find out you took her."

The Sheriff looked at Gisborne, a smirk alight his face, the maid moving up his back until she was at the collar of his armor. "Of course, we should be expecting her when we get back from the fight. The men are ready, as are the kelts?"

"Yes, cousin, they are all ready."

The Sheriff turned to his cousin, fully dressed in black leather studded armor atop his usual attire. The maid left after curtsying, and the Sheriff wrapped his arm around his cousin's shoulder, leading him to the door. "She's out of the way and coming to our doorstep, and Robin doesn't know we're coming to attack, how could this day get any better?"