Disclaimer: I do not own BBC Robin Hood, just my original character Daisy

MARION

Marion wasn't bad not really but her Father had instilled his only rule in her at a young age: always protect yourself. She supposed her Mother was partially to blame, she'd died when Marion was very young, leaving her without the love and advice she'd needed growing up and with a Father whose main goal in life was to marry her off. She'd had a charmed life but it wasn't her fault, her Father had spoiled her, Robin Hood had loved her and Sir Guy of Gisbourne wanted her. What was a girl to do with so many men in their life? There was no doubt that she didn't enjoy the attention, it had cultivated a certain ego inside of her.

Her future plans had definitely gone out of the window the day her cousin arrived. Her Father rarely talked about his sister and when he did it was with a tone of disgust that surpassed all his other hatreds. With the little information she had been given, Marion had been expecting a stumpy troll of a cousin with little manners or worldly experience.

Marion had had her life set on being the fairest of them all but upon seeing her cousin's face she felt that life shatter around her. She knew she was really vain but really, was it her fault or the fault of those around her? Marion, you'll soon be aware, will always blame another instead of herself. It was a lucky coincidence that though Marion's cousin Daisy was extremely beautiful, she didn't know it. Her cousin obviously had several insecurities that Marion was more than prepared to take advantage of.

She was made very happy when Daisy was put on house arrest shortly after she arrived. Her views were entirely too offensive to the current Sheriff and neither Marion or her Father wanted to risk their lives at the expense of a wrongly placed comment. Besides the less Daisy saw of Nottingham, the less Nottingham could interfere with Marion's plans.

Of course it was hard work balancing who she was with both Robin and Gisbourne panting after her, her attempts to help the poor as her alter ego had been put to rest. She'd only done it to keep Robin keen, and was happy to give it up, she was a Lady and getting her hands dirty wasn't something she could enjoy.

She wasn't sure how long she could keep both Robin and Gisbourne interested, it would be easy to cut them off but she didn't know if she could survive without their constant affection. Heaven forbid they found someone else to focus their attentions on, no Daisy was better off in the house where no one could see her.

Then of course there had been that fateful day in Nottingham with the Sheriff. Her Father had only just given her access back to the Sheriff's meetings – her wild tongue having created too much trouble before. She'd reaffirmed her determination to save herself when the Sheriff had knocked her for six by asking her to reveal the location of Robin Hood. Of course it would have been easy to unveil Robin had she known of his secret location but she didn't and however unkind she may be, she wouldn't take him from his devoted followers. As much as she disliked the poor she couldn't argue that they needed him.

So instead of giving the Sheriff what he wanted, she gave up the only other piece of information she had, the secrets of Daisy. Of course she knew of the interest in the Cossu Family, their opinions of life and society had put them on the radar long before they were killed and she knew that would capture the Sheriff's interest. Daisy had a lot of wealth still it was unseemly for an unmarried woman to live alone – at least, that was the excuse her Father had given for welcoming her into their home. She knew the Sheriff liked to collect his wealthy enemies to squeeze money from them before disposing of them. IT had been far easier to give up her cousin's name than she thought.

Of course her Father had been furious at her outburst and had banished her to the Manor without so much as a backwards glance. When they left for Nottingham the following day, Marion was outraged, angry and jealous that her Father stood by his decision of not allowing her to accompany them. On other days she'd be relieved that her Father had left her alone but alas the one thing that managed to shatter her ice cold heart was currently away and unable to occupy her time. She sat twiddling her thumbs and sighing in frustration and annoyance till her Father returned home. She had thought about going out and either finding Robin or following her Father and cousin to Notttingham but decided it wasn't worth the trouble. Her jealousy spiked again when her Father informed her that Daisy was still out, being given a tour by Sir Gisbourne.

'That should be me.' She thought. 'One look at her beauty and I'll be forgotten. It cannot be.'

With her jealousy her anger grew and grew and she couldn't help but confront Daisy when she returned from her outing.

"Hasn't asked you to call him Sir Guy yet?"

To her disappointment, Daisy didn't seem even a little bothered.

"I wouldn't take such liberties with a man I've just met." Replied Daisy.

Of course the words Daisy said were slightly different but Marion only heard what she wanted to and she was unhappy with Daisy's aloof attitude.

She sneered at her cousin "don't get used to it, you won't be the shiny new to for long."

Feeling she had the upper hand on her cousin she retreated to her room with her head held high and shut the door behind her. Waiting on her desk was a letter and a pale pink rose. As she read the letter she began to think that not every part of her life was going downhill.