As much as Edyn despised working in the castle where she believed the devil's spawn resided she did have to admit to herself there were some advantages to her new lifestyle that she enjoyed. She no longer had to cook or wash pots or any other jobs she usually tried to avoid. As Marian's maid she was only required to clean her and Sir Edward's chambers, help Marian dress and ready herself for the few trips into town and bring her and her father's meals to them whenever they refused to dine with the Sheriff, which not surprising became a regular occurrence.

With all her free time she found herself regularly going back and forth from the castle not only sending messages between Robin and Marian but to also check in on Sybil who was slowly becoming immobilised by her swelling baby bump, as well as to spend time with her brother. Lately he had been acting odd and it made Edyn slightly nervous. He had never kept anything from her but she got the feeling he was now.

Late one afternoon she was slowly heading back to the castle after seeing Sybil. She had been ecstatic that the night prior she had felt her baby kick for the first time. Edyn was amazed someone could prattle on about something so trivial for so long. As she passed the Trip Inn she kept her head down and focused on where she was headed when she couldn't help but notice someone leaving it suspiciously, glancing over his shoulder before pulling his hood up to cover his face.

"Allan?"

He spun around quicker than she thought possible, his hand instinctively went to his sword and froze when he spotted her. "Edyn! What are you doing here?" he demanded.

"I- I was just heading back to the castle," she said slightly taken back. "Calm down, I'm not going to tell Robin you snuck in to the Trip for a drink."

"What? Oh, right. Thank you," he rambled nervously.

"Well, while you're here, could you tell Robin that Marian wants to speak with him? She's got some information that might be very useful to you all. I find it hard to locate Robin at times. I have to try and catch him when he comes into town and I have no idea where your camp is now. I heard you have a permanent one now," Edyn said.

Allan seemed to ignore what she babbling on about now; his focus was on what information Marian had. "Do you know what Marian has to tell Robin?"

"Of course, but I thought she'd want to tell Robin herself," Edyn responded recalling Marian telling her all about the Sheriff's new strongroom.

"Well, we might as well save time and you can just tell me. I'll give Robin the information when I get back to the camp," Allan pushed.

Edyn's eyes narrowed slightly. Was she imagining it or was Allan acting odd. "I'm sure Robin's not going to mind much about wasting time, you and I both know how often they find ridiculous reasons to have Robin sneak into town to talk with her. At least now they have a proper excuse."

"But–" he stopped himself seeming slightly deflated. "Yeah, I guess you're right. I'd better go tell Robin he's wanted by Marian." He went to leave without another word.

"Allan," Edyn called him back. "Are you alright? You seem a bit… jumpy."

"I'm fine, I just – Well… You know Robin, probably would frown on me stopping in at a tavern after my drop-offs, you know?" Edyn smiled and nodded at him. "Best keep it quiet, yeah?"

"Of course," Edyn agreed before they both turned and left.

In the days that followed the Great Hall had been blocked off as the Sheriff was preparing gaming tables for a German guest they were about to receive. Poor fool had no idea what the Sheriff was capable and whatever money he was to bring with him to gamble with he was almost certain he would not be leaving Nottingham with any of it.

Edyn was not at all surprised when Marian was called to the Great Hall the day before their German guest was to arrive. She was however surprised when she was told by a guard to remain in Marian's chambers before she received a knock on the door and a young serving girl stood before carry a black and gold gown.

"I'm sorry, but Lady Marian is not here at the moment," Edyn said as she surveyed the nervous girl. Clearly she was new to the castle. "Do you wish to leave a message?"

"No, miss. This is for you. The Sheriff requires you to wear this tomorrow evening for when the Count is to play at the tables," she said to Edyn.

Edyn frowned and accepted the dress and noticed the girl was also wearing the same garment. "We are to wear a uniform now?"

"Only while the Count is here. Gold apparently is his favourite colour and all his servants are required to wear similar clothes when they wait upon him so the Sheriff wants him to feel right at home."

"Great, so if he doesn't win he can still look at us and see us as a prize," Edyn muttered.

The girl giggled timidly. "From what I've heard that is Lady Marian's job, but if she doesn't please him then I suppose you may be right."

"Lady Marian is the Count's prize?" Edyn asked shocked.

The girl nodded. "She's in the town buying for a new dress to impress him as we speak. The Sheriff ushered her out of the Great Hall before she had a chance to come back upstairs."

Edyn sighed. "It seems like we are all to be used as pawns for the Sheriff."

When Marian returned some few hours later she laid the new garments she had bought across her bed for Edyn to see. Edyn only had to glance at them to see how un-Marian-like they were – incredibly revealing and in Edyn's opinion quite cheap looking, though she knew they would have been made from the very best fabrics. "I'm surprised you're giving in to the Sheriff's demands, my lady," she said as she inspected the stitching closely.

"I have to," Marian said softly before she paused. "He's threatening my father's life, Edyn."

Edyn looked up at her and frowned. "Pardon? He wouldn't… Surely he can't. He–"

"He is the Sheriff of Nottingham! If he wants someone to be killed then they will be," Marian snapped suddenly.

Slightly taken back Edyn hesitated before she spoke. "You mean besides Robin Hood of course?"

Marian looked at her, her eyes still fierce with anger and Edyn was fearful she had spoken out of line as she often found herself doing, but she got relief when Marian gave in and let out a small laugh. "Yes, besides Robin Hood."

The following day Edyn spent her morning helping Marian dress and ready herself to welcome the Count. She was then required to wait in the Great Hall for Marian and the rest of the nobles to enter with the German. Not surprising, when they entered the Count was already fawning over Marian and Edyn soon found herself bored having to stand nearby and listen to him complement Marian on everything she said or did with his thick accent. She was very relieved when Marian excused her.

"No point the both of us bored senseless," she told Edyn. "Make sure my fire is still burning when I return, I'm considering feigning a headache in a few moments. This is unbearable."

Edyn thanked her and soon was back in Marian's chambers waiting for her. Surprisingly she waited for quite a while before Marian came bounding into the room. "My riding clothes, quickly," she said. As Edyn got out the clothes Marian needed she was told how the German was not quite the fool they all thought him to be and how he had agreed to help Robin steal the money from the Sheriff's strongroom. "You'll need to come also. Count Friedrich persuaded the Sheriff that we need no guards but it would be inappropriate if I were to been seen with a gentleman and no chaperon," Marian explained much more exuberant than what she had been earlier.

Once the three of them were in the forest Edyn hung back and allowed the two of them to talk and scheme as she glanced around at where they were headed. She had never been in this part of the forest and she wondered idly where they had built their new camp. As they approached a clearing Marian brought her fingers to her lips and gave out a sharp whistle for Robin and his men to hear. Edyn moved her horse closer and dismounted as she watched the gang all emerge from behind the many trees on the slope beside them.

Marian and Count Friedrich quickly explained their plan and Edyn got some amusement out of Robin's obvious jealousy of how friendly the Count seemed with Marian. By the end of the discussion Robin was committed but the rest of his gang remained unpersuaded convinced they were not yet ready to try and break into the strongroom. With Edyn's very brief knowledge on the matter she could not see a problem with them breaking into a room, they had done it many times before, what could be so hard about this one?

Later that afternoon back in the castle Edyn went to meet Djaq as she entered the castle with the rest of the servants and quickly lead her to Marian's chamber. Djaq changed into her attire while Edyn finished with Marian's hair. Marian was to meet Count Friedrich while Edyn and Djaq finished changing before helping the rest of the gang enter the castle.

There were still several minutes before they were to pass down the corridors with the rest of the serving girls and Edyn fiddled impatiently with her dress. The bodice was a gold corset, which she couldn't help but admire as it had now given her a noticeable waistline and the long black skirt made her look much taller than what she normally would, not to mention that the corset had now pushed what little bust she had higher making it look much larger. Even her arms looked long and slim in the black gloves the came up high on her arms. She was quite impressed with her appearance she had to admit. That was until she noticed Djaq fidgeting in her own dress. She was wearing the Count's official uniform disguising herself as one of his own servants and Edyn sighed as Djaq was now looking even more beautiful than what Edyn thought possible. Her boyish looks were now gone as her hair was slowly growing longer and she was wearing clothes that clearly showed her womanly curves. When she noticed Edyn staring at her she gave her a small smile. "The things we have to do never cease to surprise me."

"You do not enjoy getting dressed up?" Edyn questioned.

Djaq shrugged. "It seems like a lot of effort, especially as we get no enjoyment out of it but rather the men do. I do not like to see myself as an object. Just because I'm a woman doesn't mean I don't have pride; I respect myself, which is why I do not need to dress myself up to feel beautiful or loved."

Edyn was silent. Djaq had a good point and she did agree with it to some respects, but strangely she felt slightly offended by it. Though Djaq was completely unaware of it, she was in fact taunting Edyn, who at times did have to dress up to make herself look more appealing for the sake of having somewhere to live. Did that really mean she had no pride or self-respect?

As the two of them walked down the corridor leading the rest of the servants they passed Sir Guy who suddenly called them to halt. Edyn held her breath as he instructed Djaq to keep her master's goblet filled. She simply nodded her head and kept herself composed as she glanced at Edyn with her mouth twitching into a smile. How could she remain so relaxed? Edyn could already feel sweat beginning to moisten her brow.

They both then quickly ducked to the side and waited for the guards to approach. Edyn remained where she was hidden from sight and Djaq placed herself pathetically on the steps and hitched her dress up high revealing a majority of her perfectly toned thigh. Edyn was quite surprised by how carefree Djaq seemed even as she sat so inappropriately. She had to admit though, watching Djaq feigning her distress and striking the guards as they distracted themselves with inspecting Djaq's leg was quite amusing. When they fell to the ground Djaq quickly took the keys from the belt of one of them and turned to Edyn with a satisfied smirk on her face. "Men are so obvious!"

Edyn stifled her laughter as they ran out to the far side of the courtyard and unlocked the waste shoot. She remained standing so she could peer around the corner to the courtyard as Djaq tied the shoot door up and the rest of the outlaws began to climb through. Each one that dropped down on the ground beside Djaq did not even try to stop themselves from gawking at her as she remained as always completely oblivious, her mind focused on her task. Edyn felt jealousy surged through her like she had never felt before as Will smoothly climbed out and stood in front of Djaq, his eyes dropping straight to her breasts which were bulging from the top of her dress. "What?" Djaq demanded breaking his eye contact.

"Nothing," he muttered quickly shaking his head and moved away from her.

Edyn watched as he passed her without even a momentary glance. Maybe she didn't look as pretty as she had first thought. She then found herself looking down at her almost flat chest and sighed. Typically, Allan chose that moment to walk pass and he didn't even attempt to cover up his snigger. Angrily Edyn swung her arm and slapped his chest to stop his taunts. "Wha-? There is a violent side to you," he said laughing again.

She simply ignored him and followed as Robin led his men down the corridor to the strongroom. She came close to walking straight into Little John as he stopped in front of her suddenly. Glancing beside them she could see a plain door she had passed many times over the last few weeks. This was the Sheriff's strongroom containing his fortune? How idiotic she felt as she had merely thought it was nothing more than a storeroom that contained little more than a few brooms.

She then felt John's strong hands pull her back and she was about to open her mouth and questioned him when Robin squatted down and pressed on the stone nearest the door. It dropped a few inches with his weight and everyone leant away from the door and looked in the opposite direction.

"Where's the arrow?" Much asked.

"Arrow?" Edyn questioned.

"Traps," John told her.

"There can't be. I pass by here almost every day, as do many other servants," Edyn replied.

"They must disarm them during the day," Robin mused. "Will?" He indicated towards the door and cautiously Will approached and removed one of the wall stones from near the doorway. As soon as the stone was disturbed there was a whistling sound as a small arrow shot from the other side of the door and embedded itself in the bags that Will had slung over his shoulder.

Edyn let out a small shriek from fear and worry. That had been too close. If he hadn't had those sacks over his shoulder he could have been seriously injured, or even killed if he had been standing in a different position. The moment she had shrieked she had brought her hands to cover her mouth and Robin turned to her.

"Edyn! For God's sake!" he hissed.

"Sorry! I'm sorry! I err, I think I'll go see how Marian's doing," she babbled.

"Good idea," Robin replied just as Will took a closer look at the arrow and sniffed it.

"Poison," he announced.

Edyn had seen and heard enough. She quickly turned and left them desperately trying to ignore how her hands were shaking uncontrollably and moved swiftly to the Great Hall. The next few minutes she found herself struggling to keep her hands steady as she poured wine for the nobles that were also gambling on the different gaming tables. "You all right, lovely?" she was asked by a much older man. How much this reminded her of when she was back at the Trip Inn. Strange to think that was almost a year ago that she had been there.

Djaq had now joined her and nodded to Marian indicating that Robin and his men were now in the strongroom. Edyn had been told that once they were inside they had only a count of one hundred and seventy to get the money out, and Edyn could safely say that it was the longest few minutes of her entire life. Keeping to the plan, Count Friedrich had lost his entire fortune on a single dice throw and put on an act to persuade the Sheriff of his sudden resentment towards Marian. Making it seem as believable as possible Djaq quickly followed her 'master' and Edyn went to Marian's side and the two of them headed for the door to look as if they were retiring to Marian's chamber when in fact they met both Djaq and Count Friedrich in the corridor and headed outside where the Count's men had already got their master's carriage ready to go. Marian and Edyn both waited by the door hoping not to be seen while they waiting for the others to arrive.

The castle alarm bell suddenly began to chime and they each looked at each other with panic. Luckily, not a moment later Robin appeared with the rest of his men all wearing the Count's official uniforms and carrying the many sacks of gold they had successfully stolen. Guards were running back and forth completely oblivious that the men they were seeking were standing right near them, hastily throwing the stolen money into the Count's carriage. As the remaining guards entered the castle Edyn and Marian quickly closed and locked the doors behind them so they wouldn't come bursting back outside.

Marian then approached Friedrich to express her thanks and Edyn stood nervously nearby, continuously glancing over her shoulder. When she looked briefly towards where Robin's men were standing she could have sworn she saw Will's eyes quickly divert to the ground the moment she faced him as if he hadn't meant to be staring at her. Although she was most probably mistaken she allowed herself to swell with happiness at the thought. Marian then moved beside Edyn as the carriage moved away and the two women giggled as both Robin and Little John swung a bag of coins above their head in victory. Finally, Edyn was once again beginning to feel as if she were a part of something meaningful, even if her part was small, she was still making a difference.

A:N/ Erm…not really much to say about this chapter, except that it was fun to write. Thank you to Sister-of-Tal-Kyrte for all your advice and kind words, as well as all my other reviewers! I really appreciate any help I can get so please feel free to offer anymore advice or constructive criticism; I hope there was at least a little improvement with this chapter, I'd already written it when I posted the last chapter so I tried to tweak it while editing, hopefully my next chapter will show some improvement =]