In the silence of the night when only a few soft lanterns flicker outside the gates of Nottingham , carefully a man walks through the dark keep of the castle, his silver ring glinting in the moonlight. His dark coat claps in the breeze, a hood obscures his face. But underneath it he smiles, because he had found what he was looking for. Finally.

"I am very sorry lord Guy." Marian gritted her teeth, she had decided that apologizing to him was probably the best option, even though he didn't deserve it. But she really didn't want to draw unnecessary attention. "It won't happen again."

He frowned slightly. "It is of no consequence."

"So...you aren't going to tell the sheriff?"

"Why would I do that?" He was straightening the saddle on his horse, who was waiting patiently.

"Because of yesterday?" She frowned he had a different tune today, maybe it was just because he had other things on his mind, that much was clear anyway. He was hardly paying attention to her.

"Look, I don't care if you apologize or not, but I am going to make it my business to find who you are and why you are here." He dropped the leather strap. "If he thinks that you being a woman is going to make any difference he is very wrong." There was a glint of something in his eye for a second, then he scowled and turned back to his horse. "Don't you have work to do?" He tested his foot in the stirrups. "I can't see you managing much with your...injury." Satisfied Guy mounted the grey horse. "I do wonder why the sheriff would employ a cripple. But oh well I am not one to question his choices." He mounted the horse and rode out of the stables leaving Marian with only the hay and smell of horse manure for company.

She touched her useless arm, it felt like it wasn't a part of her, she couldn't feel it at all. Marian sighed, that was what she was seen as now. A cripple. A poor broken cripple, if only she could move it again. If only she wasn't born with this curse, If only, if only. It changed nothing, she was still somehow stuck in eleven ninety. Her arm would always be paralyzed, so there was no use and grieving about it.

She wandered back to the kitchens. The Sheriff wasn't in the castle today. Which was a great relief for Marian, he had a cold and clawing attitude that made her shudder. She hated serving him. But being at the castle did have its upsides, she had made a few friends, the two girls she had seen on her first day were Meg and Bella, Bella was the oldest and most confident. They made Marian smile with their endless chatter. The three of them often sat together and ate their lunch and she was told stories about the handsome young guard that Bella fancied.

Madge always made sure she had plenty of food, and every time she had a platter for the sheriff, Madge checked its weight and made sure Marian could carry it with only one arm.

"Marian good you're here, can you please chop these carrots. We must have dinner ready and served when the Sheriff gets back." Madge was flustered because Sheriff had important guests, so dinner had to be perfect.

"Of course." She rolled up her sleeve, she had begun to master the art on chopping vegetables with only one arm, it wasn't easy. But she was getting used to it. Madge thought it was good practice for when she got a husband, Marian just laughed.

"Cut them, into small pieces. Its for the stew." Madge's cheeks were bright red and strands of her gray hair were plastered to her face.

"Yes Madge."

Very soon after, the kitchen was full of the appetizing smell of lamb and vegetable stew. The cook's rushed to butter rolls of crispy delicate garlic bread. Madge fussed over every little detail, she also kept asking Marian if things tasted good. Sadly for Marian they all tasted heavenly, her stomach rumbled. But she couldn't eat while there was still work to be done.

"Marian, be a dear and help Meg start setting the table."

She jumped at the opportunity to get out of the stuffy kitchen, they were just handling the spoons, knives and forks.

"I wonder who his guest is." Mused Meg as they continued the rather long process of giving each plate one of each utensil.

"Hm, yes I wonder as well." Marian stepped back to look at their handiwork, with the row of candles down the center of the table and the silverware glinting in the soft light, it looked beautiful. It would be so nice to have dinner at a table like that.

"Marian, we have to get out of here before they arrive."

She nodded and with one last wistful glance at the sparkling she closed the double doors. Everything was ready.

They stood and watched as the servants carried sauces, soups and bread to the dining hall. The sheriff was certainly well fed. Marian was getting more and more hungry. She had been smelling the food cook all evening, without eating. She was beginning to feel lightheaded. "Meg, I just want to go see if I can find something to eat."

"I'm quite hungry myself." She grinned.

Madge was quite happy to give them some garlic bread and a bowl of stew. Marian could not focus on anything or anyone until she had eaten. She was completely out of energy. But once she actually started eating she couldn't eat hardly as much as she previously assumed. She ate the stew but couldn't finish the bread, she gave it to meg who was happy to eat it the put her bowl in the huge dishes tub.

She needed to go outside. She needed air and time alone. Marian told Meg where she was going then left the kitchen.

The courtyard was dark and quiet, the full moon shining down onto the castle. Marian quietly sat down on the edge of the steps, she could relax. Finally.

"Marian."

With a sharp intake of breath Marian spun round. It was Bella. "What is it?" She didn't mean to sound snappish, but that was how it came out.

"I'm sorry, but there is a man here to see you, he say you will know him."

Marian breathed. It was Robin, she just knew. "Where is he?"

"In the stables."

Why was he here? It was so dangerous. Why would he do that to see someone he barely knew? A horrible idea came to her. What if some thing had happened to Colin or Ellie?

Marian quickly began running to the stables as her mind flooded with all the ghastly possibilities. The stables were dark and quiet. A couple of the horses nickered when she came in. A cold shiver ran up her spine, this wasn't right.

"Don't scream."

Marian spun round, in the half light leaning against the stables was a figure. A man. He was hooded. "What do you want?"

"Just to give you a message." She knew that voice, who was he?

"What message?" Her voice came out shaky.

"There are people out there who want you to know that you are here for a reason. You are not alone, so keep your eyes and ears open because very soon, you will find out what they mean."

That voice, so familiar. "Who are you?"

A cold mirthless laugh. "I am pretty sure you don't want to know that."

"Who sent you?"

"Nobody." He murmured, fiddling with his large silver ring, it glinted in the moonlight.

"Marian, Madge wants to see you." Oh gods it was Meg. He might hurt her.

"I'm coming out." She called.

The man looked at her, she couldn't see his face but she could feel the weight of his gaze.

"Don't ever come here again." She whispered.

But he was already gone.