For the 2010 Robin Hood drabblefest

Prompt:Allan/Guy/Marian; "It could be worse."

Summary: Allan, Guy and Marian are a little tied up…

Bright side

"It could be worse," Allan said cheerfully.

"How, exactly?" Guy asked. "Two men tied up to a post with a naked woman when neither of them are married, nor related, to her."

"One woman," Marian said, "tied to a post with two naked men, neither of whom are wedded at all, nor related to the woman, nor to each other."

Allan thought about this a while. "I admit it don't look good," he said.

"We'll probably all get burned as heretics," Guy said glumly.

"Burning," Allan said. "See, there's a bright spot. We're tied up in the shade at least!"

Prompt:Guards; lost in the forest

Summary: Despite their incompetence the guards provide a much needed rescue

Hallucinations

Harry wiped sweat from his brow. Surely he was hallucinating. "Ere, William, I'm seeing things."

William frowned. "I'm seeing 'em too. Sir Guy and Lady Marian and that Allan bloke. Naked and tied to a pole."

"Wow, you see exactly what I see," Harry said. "Do you think they know the way out of the forest? We've been lost for hours."

"Um," said the "Allan bloke", "yeah. Untie us, bring us our clothes from that bush where Robin threw them and we'll show you the way. We're very helpful mirages."

Harry was too relived to question this obviously divine intervention.

Prompt:Allan/Guy/Marian; heatwave

Summary: What's a bit more nakedness between friends?

Heatwave

"Go, gentle guards-folk," Allan said. The guards stared at him.

"Your mirages are telling you to get lost," he said helpfully and they went. Allan, Guy and Marian took the other path back towards the castle.

"I'm going to kill Hood," Guy said.

"You're all talk," Allan said. "Well, maybe not all talk, having seen your delectables for myself."

Marian snorted, blushing bright red. "Delectables?"

"Yours too," Allan reminded her.

"And we yours," Marian said.

"And?" Allan asked, unabashed.

After a few minutes of silence, Guy said, "It is very hot. I think I'll sleep naked tonight."

"Me too," Allan agreed.

"I'm going to bathe before bed," Marian said. "And in this heatwave we should save water. You should come and use my bath water."

"After you?" Allan asked. She merely grinned.

"Wandering around the castle while wet could be dangerous," Guy said as if thinking aloud. "Slippery."

"You'd have to stay in my room until you dried," Marian agreed.

"Find some way to dry off," Allan put in. "Some sort of physical exertion, perhaps?"