The kitchen where Edyn lounged was warm and cosy. Winter was gradually passing, as was time itself, Edyn idly thought to herself as she lay on her back on a bench seat as she listened to Janet prattle on about this and that, all of it unimportant but it amused her how excited Janet got with each bit of information she passed on. Edyn had soon learnt that Janet was one of those people that loved the sound of her own voice. But it didn't bother Edyn who chose to speak only when it was necessary.

When she heard the sound of a carriage approaching she hastily leapt to her feet. "They wouldn't be back yet, surely?" she said to Janet as she straightened her dress.

Janet looked just as surprised. "They've only been gone a few hours; I would have thought they'd be there till early in the afternoon."

"So did I," Edyn muttered and headed through the house to the door while tucking a loose strand of auburn hair behind her ear. Appearance was everything, she soon learned after accepting a job at Knighton Hall.

Pulling open the door she greeted Marian and her father as they climbed from the carriage. "What a calamity!" Sir Edward huffed as he headed indoors. "Can you have some wine brought to me please, Edyn?"

"Yes, my lord," she replied closing the door after them.

Once Sir Edward was settled in front of the fire with a goblet full of wine Edyn headed upstairs to assist Marian, if she needed it. They had been to a formal occasion at Locksley Manor to celebrate the King's birthday. It was meant to take up a majority of the day yet it was still quite early in the morning and here they were home already.

Upstairs, Marian was pacing back and forth while trying to pull the many pins from her hair, clearly agitated. "Allow me," Edyn said moving towards her.

Marian succumbed to her frustration and sat in front of her mirror permitting Edyn's gentle hands to pull her hair from its restraints. "Robin showed up," she said without having to wait for Edyn to question her.

"He cut the party short, did he?"

"Yes, well… Guy's reaction to him did. He gave me a ring, in front of everyone, to announce our engagement. And then Robin showed up and took it, along with every other piece of jewellery that was there." Her voice sounded so distant, as if her mind were miles away trying to fully understand the situation.

"Are you upset or not by the loss of it?" Edyn asked.

"I hardly had time to become attached to it," Marian scoffed. "But of course, Guy had to make a show out of chasing after them. Who knows what's going on now, but the Sheriff has one of his men; the Saracen."

"Saracen?"

"Yes, they have a young Saracen boy in the gang now. Don't ask me how he came to be with Robin, but I hope they rescue him soon, we both know how ruthless the Sheriff is."

Silence then followed and Marian continued to muse over everything before she suddenly burst out with, "I just– I don't understand why they are always in competition with each other. I mean, I understand how Robin resents Guy for taking over his lands and title, but there's always so much more to it. It's almost like they have to outdo each other with gallantries. It's so frustrating being stuck in the middle of it."

"If I may say something, my lady?" Edyn asked.

"Of course, Edyn. I value you're opinion."

"Well… maybe you hate the rivalry between Robin and Sir Guy purely for the fact that you're being forced to love one, yet you are in love with the other." She had noticed over the last few weeks how differently Marian acted around Robin.

"Of course not! I no longer have feelings for Robin; he had his chance. A chance for a proper life, but he chose to leave. He chose war over me. How could I ever love him again?"

Edyn couldn't ignore how the tone in Marian's voice suddenly changed. "You don't feel anything towards him?"

"No, I…" she gave in with a sigh. "I don't know what I feel anymore. I was so determined to hate him when he first returned from the Holy Land, but the more I see him the harder it gets. But I cannot have feelings for him. I am to marry Guy, and if I even consider any other feelings I may have it will only make my marriage so much harder."

Edyn forced herself not to show sympathy on her face, it would only anger Marian. "Well I admire you for that. Many wouldn't be able to."

Marian smiled at her. Her lack of views gave her comfort in an odd way; she didn't feel pressured. "What about you, Edyn? Is there any boy you left behind at Locksley? Or Nottingham maybe?"

"Oh!" This had caught her off guard. "N-no. There's nobody," Edyn said laughing nervously. Her mind then suddenly flashed back to when she had last spoken to Will, the fluttering feeling in her stomach when he spoke her name, the smile she had glued on her face as she rode home. Why am I thinking of Will? she thought to herself irritably.

Marian held back a laugh when she noticed Edyn's cheeks turn pink. "What's his name?"

Edyn shook her head. "Honestly, there's nobody." Marian simply nodded her head and let it pass, for the moment.

Later that afternoon while Marian busied herself in her bedchamber, Edyn was sweeping the floors when she heard a knock on the door. She groaned, assuming it was Sir Guy joyous from retrieving Marian's ring in the hope of receiving one of her smiles. However, when she pulled the door open it was not Sir Guy standing before her. Panting and looking wind swept, Much stared at her with wide eyes. "Is Marian here?" he asked.

"Yes, she is. Come in, quickly." She ushered Much inside and went to retrieve Marian.

"Much? What are you doing here?" Marian asked as she came down the stairs.

"It's Robin!" he puffed still trying to regain his breath. "He's bent on revenge against Gisborne. He thinks he tried to kill the King when we were in the Holy Land and refuses to accept that our main priority is to rescue Djaq from Nottingham. He won't listen to me, but I'm sure he'll listen to you. Please, will you talk to him?"

"Yes, of course. Edyn, the horses…"

Edyn didn't need to be told. She and the young stable boy Adam soon had both hers and Marian's horses saddled and ready by the time Marian and Much exited the house. The ride into the forest was silent and Edyn wondered why Marian had wanted her to come, but she must have had her reasons.

The camp where they arrived was perched on top off a hill and in the gully behind it they could see Sir Guy's unconscious figure laying ten feet from where Robin also lay, panting and struggling to sit upright. He glanced up at the three new arrivals and Marian gave him a disapproving stare while shaking her head. She then sat him down back at the camp and threw him a flask of water before her interrogating began. Robin sat sulking like a child as he listened to what she had to say.

Edyn and Much in the meantime struggled to drag Sir Guy's limp body up the hillside and tied him so he sat leaning against the trunk of a tree. Edyn felt quite guilty as they heaved him together; she wasn't exactly strong and poor Much had to do most of the work himself. By the time they had gotten to the top of the crest he was puffing almost as much as Robin had been when they first arrived.

"Much, should we maybe blindfold him? Imagine what he would say if he woke to see his future bride standing alongside Robin Hood."

Much nodded. "Good point," he said while gagging him as well. Once they were finished they had nothing to do but sit and wait in silence. Much, becoming agitated withdrew his sword and amused himself by stabbing the soil beneath his feet. Edyn began to feel sorry for this poor man. He did so much for his master, even she could see that, and he got nothing in return, but to be shunned for a pretty face.

After sitting for a while they both stood up at the sound of footsteps approaching. Will, Allan and John trudged up the hill dragging their feet. Much instantly started babbling about his reasons for untying Robin but Edyn could see in their faces none of them were interested. "Much," she warned.

He looked from her back to them before it clicked to him. "Where's Djaq?"

John sighed and shook his head. "We need Robin." He ignored any attempts for protests as Much opened his mouth to argue and headed straight to where Robin sat talking with Marian. Will and Allan followed him both nodding their heads to acknowledge Edyn. She ducked her head to try and hide how her cheeks flushed pink when Will's eyes locked with hers briefly as he passed.

She went to follow them and paused noticing how Much hung back. "C'mon, Much." Reaching the others Allan and Will had already begun bickering with Robin about Djaq's safety.

"Robin, wake up, it's Djaq!" Will snapped at Robin. She couldn't help but admire how much he cared for everyone in the gang, how much he stood up for them.

But Robin didn't seem to care at all. "You are just thinking of man, I am thinking of the King and the whole of England!" Edyn glanced over to where Guy's body was slumped against the rope that bound him to the tree. She knew he could be a cruel man, almost as cruel as the Sheriff at times, but she found it hard to believe he was guilty of treason.

"Djaq is not just one man," Will continued. "She's a woman."

This suddenly caught Edyn's attention. They had a woman in their camp? Marian seemed to share her confusion. "Jack? Is a woman? The Saracen?"

"Long story," Allan muttered.

Will, however, ignored all these comments and continued to argue his point. "Do you have any idea what they might do to her if the Sheriff realises?"

"Umm, I think I have a pretty good idea," Edyn spoke up. "It's not pleasant." She didn't know if the Sheriff and his men would result to the same measures as Joe did, but she wanted to make sure it would not happen to another person if she could help it.

"Yeah," Allan agreed gesturing a hand in Edyn direction. "We have proof here what some men will do to a woman."

"No!" Robin responded.

"The thing is, if we get captured, then we may all die," Much spoke trying to side with his master.

"True," Allan agreed. "But it's Djaq." Will standing next to him nodded his head in agreement.

"Well, what does that mean? 'True, but it's Djaq.' It's not even an answer!" Much responded.

Allan shifted from foot to foot nervously. "See, the thing is… I like her."

"I think I love her." Will's voice said the same moment Allan spoke.

The two men suddenly faced each other out of shock, and Edyn was relieved, as they could not see her reaction. The moment she had heard the words come from their mouths, from his mouth more importantly, she felt as if she had been punched in the stomach. The sheer shock of it was actually painful. All her hopes had been shattered in one second. It seemed cruel that she had only recently started to admit her feelings to herself and now it didn't matter. She then realised she was surrounded by many people and hastily closed her gaping mouth and focused her attention on the ground. Conversation started up again after the shock of the double confession had passed but Edyn ignored it all. She wanted to go home; she didn't want to be here anymore, near him. She simply wanted to do the cowardly thing and hide from the hurt. The horrible feeling of rejection she feared so much washed over her and she suddenly felt ill.

A plan to trade Sir Guy for Djaq was quickly organised, though Robin had to be knocked senseless for it to be played out. Marian and Edyn were to ride to Nottingham and notify the Sheriff of an ambush they were to pretend happened and of the trade the outlaws requested during this 'ambush.' From there it was up to the gang to get Djaq back.

The wind whistled passed Edyn's ears as she rode making her unable to concentrate on anything and she was glad. The moment they arrived at Nottingham the reminder of what she had heard before was glued back in her mind. What was this Djaq woman like? She must be something amazing to have both Allan and Will's attention.

Marian strode through the castle without an escort and went straight to the dungeon with Edyn trailing unhappily behind her. Down in the dark, eerie dungeons they found the Sheriff with his jailer discussing methods of torture for the Saracen 'boy.'

"My lord, Sheriff!" Marian spoke, feigning her distress and requesting an audience with him.

Reluctantly he nodded and gestured for her to follow him to the Great Hall. The moment he moved Edyn caught sight of his prisoner; Djaq. Edyn stood rooted to the ground as she studied this tiny woman. By first glance she looked like a twelve-year-old boy shaking with fear. Where was the attraction? Djaq then suddenly looked up at Edyn and their eyes met. She suddenly understood. She was beautiful. Big brown eyes framed by long lashes, perfect caramel coloured skin, full lips, dark hair and a small petite body that Edyn knew from her months working at the Trip drove men wild. Appearance wise she was perfect, with the exception of her short-cropped hair. But it wasn't just that. Although she had backed herself into a corner from fear, she had enough courage that she stood waiting for it. She was not weeping or begging for mercy; she was accepting of what was to happen to her. Edyn wondered how many would do that, bravely stand there and take it.

"Edyn! Come on." Marian's voice woke her from her daze and forced her eyes away from this strange woman.

She was required to wait outside in the corridor while Marian played her part giving Edyn time to think. It was wrong of her to resent this poor woman, as she had done nothing wrong. And Will, why should she feel rejected when he was completely unaware of her feelings; she herself was still confused by them. To him she was just an acquaintance, someone who once lived near him, nothing more. Neither of them had knowingly hurt her and she would force herself to be the stronger person she always wanted to be and ignore the hurt she felt.

The ride back to Knighton Hall was slow, all urgency gone. So far the plan had worked; the Sheriff had taken the bait. Marian glanced at Edyn who had not spoken since they left the outlaws camp. "It's Will, isn't it?"

Edyn slowly looked up at her. "What?"

"The man you wouldn't tell me about; who you have feelings for. I saw you're face after their confessions; you were more shocked than the rest of us. I'm assuming it was Will rather than Allan. You would have known him from Locksley. Am I right?"

Edyn looked down at her hands uncomfortably. "Yes, I've known him a while."

"Do you love him?" This came as a shock.

"What? No, of course not. I hardly understand what love is, I just– I was stunned, that's all. I didn't really know what feelings I had towards him but the moment he said that I suddenly realised how I felt… I don't have any claim over him and it's not like anything would ever happen between us. But, he's been the first man I've ever noticed, that way I mean." Edyn was stunned by her confession. She rarely spoke to others of her feelings, yet Marian always seemed to get it out of her.

"Sounds like we both want something we can't have," Marian muttered sadly.

For all the heartache they both seemed to be feeling it was a small comfort to know they had each other. Marian had made it clear that when she would marry Sir Guy she wanted Edyn to go with her, to have a familiar face nearby in strange new surroundings. Since Robin had left Locksley Manor it seemed like a completely different building. Somewhere Marian didn't want to go alone.

Weeks passed by with the usual dramas and more stories of Robin and his outlaws passed through all the villages. Djaq had been rescued without a hitch and Edyn sometimes spotted her amongst the gang the few times she saw them. Edyn was now oddly intrigued by her; wanting to know more about this exotic woman who seemed to have stolen the hearts of half the camp.

Meanwhile things were starting to get odd and Edyn found it difficult to keep up with all the news Marian would return home from the castle with. She thought she was dreaming when she heard something about Much being a lord! But it was true; it was all part of some scheme of Robin's to rescue an innocent man named Lambert that had intertwined with a scheme of the Sheriff's trying to gain knowledge of Robin. It became even more complicated when Marian got involved trying to convince Guy to sneak the man out of the castle while the Sheriff was busy with the council of nobles. With so much going on and with so many people involved Edyn was not at all surprised when one part fell apart. Marian returned from the council of nobles looking more distraught then Edyn had ever seen her. Without saying a word she had walked straight to the mantelpiece and removed her engagement ring.

"My lady?" Edyn said softly.

"He backed out; Guy. And now Lambert is dead, murdered during the night," Marian said, her voice slightly chocked up. "I want to see Robin. He should know what's happened."

"Of course," Edyn replied. She knew Marian didn't want to see Robin to give him information; she just wanted to be with him.

A little over an hour later they rode through the forest in silence until they heard a whistle. Looking up they could see Will lowering a bow and trudge down towards them. The rest of the gang had joined them by the time they dismounted. Allan moved forward and took Marian's horse. She looked up at Robin and said softly. "He's dead." His face softened. "I'm so sorry," she sobbed. Robin then gently brought his arms around her and stroked her hair while she wept.

Edyn moved away to give them privacy and glanced at the rest of the gang. Both Will and Djaq stood close together and she felt a lump rise in her throat; she had no handsome outlaw to comfort her when she was feeling low. When he looked at her he smiled slightly in greeting which only made her feel worse. Why did he have to be such a nice person?

Awkwardly she sat with them all around their campfire and she noticed Djaq was studying a ledger of some sort. Odd how Will continued to send her dark looks. It didn't take long before he stood up and snatched it from her small hands. "I'm burning it!"

The camp then erupted with the sound of outcries, which didn't die down until Robin and Marian approached. Edyn couldn't help but smile at the sight of the two of them holding hands. Another argument broke out about destroying something called black power and the book, which contained some sort of formula for this strange weapon. Edyn had no idea what was being discussed but still listened intently. Will was very upfront with his argument; he believed it was murder and worried about the safety of others if it fell into the wrong hands. Edyn felt a surge of admiration towards him. He was so caring and determined to help people, more so than the rest of the gang it seemed at times. She suddenly remembered why she had been so attracted to him in the first place. His good looks were obvious – anyone could see that – but his attitude and keen eye to see more than others made him stand out amongst the rest.

As she and Marian rode home later she had the same stupid smile plastered on her face again. This was going to be hard to get over, she knew it, but she had to. Otherwise the pain would simply become worse.

That night as Edyn got Marian's nightgown out for her, she heard her whisper quietly, "I'm still in love with him, Edyn. And I can't be. Why is life so cruel?"

"It's cruel because we people make it so," Edyn replied, she had been thinking the same thing ever since they left Sherwood Forest. "I've noticed the good suffer and the evil prosper. It's a shame we do not know how to change it." Over the last few months she had seen and felt many different things and feelings, but the worst by far was the feeling of heartache. Not only herself who barely understood it, but witnessing what Marian was going through. It wasn't fair. She was a good woman, everyone knew that, and to see her suffer was just as painful as experiencing it for herself.

A:N/ Two episodes merged into one. There were only a few parts of these episodes that I wanted to go into. I bet most of you were expecting I'd ignore that little comment, tehe! Had to add to the drama, and I'm sure most of us have been in a similar situation, where someone your head over heels for admits they like someone else. I certainly have, all my mates are guys so I know the feeling.

I'm rushing heaps to get these chapters out of the way because I've had the most AMAZING idea and I'm determined to write everything in order without skipping ahead otherwise I won't have the motivation to do these other chapters. But I want to write the end few chapters so bad! Haha.

Reviews are the best thing in the world, keep them coming! Thank you to everyone that reviewed my last chapter, I love you! Mwah! Xx