Another world. Maybe that's where she was. She remembered growing up and hearing tales of the other-world. Her mother had been highly intrigued by the old stories, or myths or legends, no matter what they were called nobody regarded them as truth. But who is to say they weren't real?

Marian groaned as she tried to comprehend the likeliness of it. And what had that man meant when he said she was here for a reason? Three days after her strange encounter and still she mused over it. Nobody really knew her here, maybe the Elliot's had told him of her? But that still didn't explain his odd message. She growled, what had she done to deserve this in her life? why must things be so complicated? The light was just beginning to brighten, but not enough for her to see everything. Her room was still shrouded in gray tones and the sun was still down. She wished she could go back to sleep.

Marian had woken very early because of a dream. Her heart had been pounding and she felt terror. Pure and real. But what deeply terrified her was that she didn't remember the dream. She couldn't remember the last time that happened, all her life her dreams had been vivid and realistic. This time it felt so much different, it was like there was a blank and blurry space where it should be. And it seemed like her room had been filled with the loudest noise. That's why she woke so suddenly.

Oh well. It was probably just her imagination and there was nothing to be done about it. Now was probably a good time to get dressed. Madge would be expecting her at the kitchens. With a sigh Marian sat up. Getting dressed was now a struggle for her with only hand, so she tried to avoid the complicated clothing. There was a maid that sometimes helped her. Sara she was called. But she was a busy girl and hardly found time to help Marian dress. And Marian hated asking her.

She stifled yawns as she slipped on her under shift; and then a simple blue gown. With a lot of difficulty and growling Marian managed to do up the clasp on her cloak. She hated having only one arm. She despised it. It made her look weak and fragile to other people. She also had a very visible scar on her collarbone. A thick twisted white one. So she often picked dresses with high collars to hide it. But sadly there was no hiding her arm.

She was going riding today, she hadn't told lady Elliot how excited she really was. Marian loved horses, she loved how gentle and calm the could be. But they weren't going if the weather wasn't nice. Marian grinned, from the looks of it the sky was cloudless. Madge had been kind and gave her a day off, because the Sheriff was away. It wasn't imperative that she must be at the castle.

"Marian, do you still want to ride with me?" Lady Elliot knocked gently on Marian's door.

"I would love to." She did wonder how difficult it would be to ride with only one arm. But she would enjoy the challenge.

"Marian do you like it here?" Lady Elliot was riding close by Marian. Their horses had both slowed down as they walked out of the forest shade."I would hate to think you didn't."

"Oh I really love it."

"That's very good. This is a rather nice spot to live." She looked around, her eyes was very clear that she loved this place. She was lucky to have such a simple life. Marian envied her.

"Oh those flowers smell divine." Lady Elliot had been positive and happy during their whole ride. She laughed and galloped ahead of Marian. She was in her mid thirties. Her hair was always tied back in a simple plait and her tanned face had telltale laugh lines. Marian like her.

"They are lavender I think." While Lad Elliot was looking graceful on her horse, Marian was fumbling and twisting with the reins of her quiet mare. They horses were knee deep in a sun drenched field that buzzed and hummed with insects. The horses were not impressed, the flicked at snorted at the bumblebees and crickets. "I'm going to check." Marian slid of her horse in a very unladylike way. On closer inspection the flowers were definitely lavender. "Would you like me to pick some?"

"Yes I think that would be very nice, my room could do with a fresh scent."

With a large bunch of flowers in Marian's bag they trotted into the forest again. Marian was resisting the urge to lick her lips, they were so chapped. The wind had painfully dried them out and unfortunately her hair was a huge messy frizz. But that didn't ruin her mood. Not in the slightest.

She grinned, the cool breeze blowing on her face and the gentle sunlight dappled through the leaves. It made her happy. She squeezed her legs together, her horse picked up its pace slightly, the horse was very calm and felt no particular reason why she should walk faster.

Lady Elliot was just a little further ahead, her horse was gently plodding along the path as her rider gazed at the maze of leaves above.

Marian felt it before it happened. A sickening panic filled her. Something black moved in the corner of her vision and then her horse took of at full speed. She screeched and clung to its neck. her heels dug into the horse. But she wasn't stopping, branches whipped through Marian's hair. Oh gods they were going off the track. The horse didn't notice as thorns and branches tore at her skin, she just ran blindly she wasn't stopping until she was well away from her fear.

Panic filled Marian. She didn't know this forest. Please stop. Please stop She willed her horse, as she buried her face in its mane.

They skidded to a halt. Then the horse bucked Marian off. With a sickening crunch she hit the roots of a large oak.

The horse stood, watching her innocently. She groaned, her shoulder creamed in pain when she tried to move it. "Oh great." She slapped the horses neck. "What a brilliant job you've done." They were deep in the heart of the forest now.

"In all my years, I never realized that horses understood English."

Marian turned around slowly. She hissed. Lounging against the tree was the hooded man from the other night.

"What do you want?"

"I was just minding my own business, when you come flying through the trees on your spooked horse." His hood didn't hide the smirk.

"Oh yeah." She scowled at him. "And what may I ask are you doing in the forest right where my horse happens to stop."

"Its just a coincidence my dear."

How was this happening again? Why would her horse run off the path only to run into this man? Like hell it was a coincidence. She grabbed her bramble filled hair and tied it back into a severe messy bun. "Who are you?"

He grinned at her again. "Really? you're asking me that again, I said the first time that you wouldn't like the answer."

"Why wouldn't I?"

"That is the same as telling you."

"Okay I don't care what you have to say, you're crazy. I am finding my way home." She grabbed the horses reins. "Stay away from me."

"Wait." He made to grab her shoulder.

She spun round and in a flash she grabbed his hood and wrenched it off his face.

Her heart dropped, she felt a scream rise in her throat. No, no no. Not now. Would this nightmare ever end? She was staring into the face of her own personal nightmare. The sandman.

"Marian, you have to listen to me, I am not here to hurt you." He grabbed her arm. "I have something important to tell you."

"I don't care." She sounded hysterical as she ripped out of his grasp. "How did you find me? how is this even happening?"

"Just let me explain."

"No, no no." She murmured to herself.

"Look-"

"No." She screamed cutting him off. "I will not let you ruin my life again." She didn't care where she was, or how this was happening. She was happy here, and that was something rare. She stared into his face with only fear and hate in her heart. "If you ever come near me again I will kill you. I don't care how. I will find a way, so stay the hell away from me." She ran into the forest, with her heartbeat screaming in her ears.

Branches whipped at her face, they tore her dress. But she didn't slow down. Because he would be pursuing her. She ran into the clearer part of the forest, her whole body screaming for her to stop. But fear drove her forward.

After a few minutes of running through the trees. She realized, he wasn't coming after. There were no footsteps behind her. The forest hummed with the heat. Sweat prickled her forehead, but he was nowhere to be seen. Somehow that scared her even more.

Oh her poor horse. She had abandoned her.

Marian wiped her burning forehead. She just had to find her way to the road. It sounded simple but she had no idea where she was. None of these trees looked familiar. She wiped her forehead jumped slightly, her whole hand was stained scarlet. Her forehead was bleeding.

She wiped her hand on her skirts. The sun was scorching her exposed skin. She would never find her way like this. Her head was pounding and her eyes were beginning to blur. It was the heat.

"Lady?"

She jumped in fright. Then she grinned, she had never been so relieved in her life. Standing a few paces away was Robin.

"What happened?" He quickly strode across to Marian. "Are you okay?"

"I was riding, my horse went off track she was spooked by something." She took a deep breath.

Robin frowned. "Where is your horse?" He touched the injury on her forehead. "Why have you been running?"

"There was a man, he attacked me." The lie rolled off her tongue without a second thought.

"And you ran?"

"Yes."

Robin nodded. "I will take you home, me and my men can help find the horse tomorrow. She probably won't go far."

Marian nodded her thanks.

"The road is this way."

Robin's voice seemed to fade as her headache screamed. She tried to stay upright, but her vision blackened and the world disappeared before her.

She floated in and out of consciousness. Her head filled with the strange words of the sandman. He kept grabbing her arm and repeating. "Stay alive Marian. Stay alive." How odd? Why would he want her alive. How wrong this dream was. Something sharp tugged at Marian. His voice was clearer this time. "This isn't right Marian, there is something out of place here. Remember why your horse ran off the track."

She felt something damp on her forehead, it was so cool. Oh it felt good to be awake. Her dreams were a confusing mess.

"Oh thank god you're awake, I thought I might never see you again." Lady Elliot was sitting on an armchair by her bed looking extremely worried. "Oh it was so lucky that Robin found you."

"Yes it was."

She craned her neck, Robin was leaning against the frame of the door.

"Don't try and sit up." He smiled. "You will be fine, but you do need rest."

"Thank you." Her voice sounded dry and crackly.

"That's no problem, this is the third time this has happened." His eyes sparkled. "Oh you are a very troublesome woman."

She smiled weakly. "I am sorry."

"Oh no, don't be I don't mind at all." He laughed. "At least it keeps me busy."

"But I do appreciate it, I could have died in that forest."

He nodded. "That's true. By the way you still haven't given me your name. I think its about time you do, I have saved you three times."

"Its Marian."

"That's a nice name, I have told you mine. I think we will be brilliant friends."

She smiled. "Yes I think it does."

"Pardon me ladies but I must be off, I need to help my men find your runaway horse."

"Thank you so much Robin."

Lady Elliot thanked him as well, and then he was off. She missed him immediately.

"Oh Marian, I better let you get some more rest." Lady Elliot stood and smiled at her. "I am so glad you are home."

"I am as well."

"Get some rest." She smiled and closed the door.

Marian sighed and dropped back onto the pillow.

She wouldn't let the sandman beat her. She was better than that.