Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood. Everything i copyrighted to the BBC. Characters are the amazing portrayal Jonas Armstrong, Sam Troughton, Joe Armstrong, Harry Lloyd, Richard Armitage, Keith Allen, Gordon Kennedy and Anjali Jay.

Once again, thankyou to Mara Scarlett.

Chapter 6

That evening, the outlaws walked to Nottingham, to the castle, to conduct their mission. The skies were growing darker and there was little chance of the group being seen from more than a few metres away.

As usual, there were guards on the outside of the castle - three on the front gates.

Whilst the other outlaws hung back, Robin, Much and Will went forward to speak to the guards.

Something that the outlaws had learned in their time, was that the castle guards are stupid. The Sheriff had picked them for their menacing looks, not their ability - which is fair enough when one wants to protect their home.

The guards obviously knew who the three men were - because who didn't? - but they were too slow on the uptake to do something and it was with a certain amount of ease, that Robin hit one over the head with the hilt of his sword causing him to fall unconcious. Much and Will followed similar ways and it was not long before the three guards lay on the ground.

They were then pulled out of sight of anyone else, relieved of their armour and left in a spot several minutes away, at the edge of the forest.

' Let's go,' Robin said in hushed tones as they made their way through the empty courtyard and into the castle. The people that were not wearing guard's armour had the hoods on their cloaks up to hide their faces, but it made no difference, as no one was around outside.

The trouble was getting into the door to enter the actual building.

After a few moments contemplating, Robin motioned to Much and Will to follow his lead. The three men walked over to the guards and just began speaking to them, having the guardsmen turn their backs to the way the outlaws were stood, thus leaving way for the sneaky group to creep behind the guards and into the castle.

When Robin saw that the last of his men - and women - were in the castle safely, he hastily wrapped up his conversation with the two burly guards, ' Well, it was interesting to speak to you both and I'll think about what you said, but best get going now. Don't want the Sheriff to come down and catch us when we should be on duty inside.'

With that he led Much and Will into the castle, where Allan, Ava, John and Djaq were awaiting them, behind a large pillar.

' OK,' said Robin, ' So the three of us shall go and speak to the Sheriff. You four are to go to the dungeons and free the prisoners who had been brought in for not paying their taxes. I'm told that there are four prisoners, you'll recognise them by their forenames - Mary, Alison, Joe and Daniel.'

' What are we to do once we 'ave the prisoners? ' Ava asked in rather a panicked voice.

Robin laid a hand on her shoulder, ' Be calm,' he told her gently, ' Once you have the prisoners, you are to run around to the servants quaters, where there is an exit out of the castle. At this time of night there should be no-one around there so you should make it out. Take the prisoners to North Road and put them on the first carriage out of here.'

' What about you three? ' Ava persisted.

Robin smiled at her kindly, ' The four of you go and don't wait for us. We shall meet you back at camp. I predict that we shall not take long in our negotiations with the Sheriff.'

' How are you goin' to get the Sheriff to do what you want? ' Allan asked Robin.

' Well, this may sound out of character, but I am going to point my bow and arrow at him until he decides to do as I say.'

' Robin! ' Djaq exclaimed, ' You are not a killer! '

Robin shrugged, ' I know that, but there's no reason why we cannot make the Sheriff sweat. Now - it is time to go about our business.'

As everyone looked like they were ready for this, and ready to throw themselves into it, Ava still looked worried - which Robin noticed.

' Do not worry so,' he told her, ' I know this is your first trip to the castle, and you are anxious, but there is no need to be. You are in safe hand with John and Djaq...and you have your father too.'

Allan took his daughters hand in his own in an attempt to reassure her, ' It'll be fine, see? '

' Of course,' Ava nodded, with confidence that she did not fully feel.

Allan, Ava, John and Djaq made their way to the dungeons. There were two guards on the door there.

It had already been discussed that one of the women may need to charm the guards to gain entry. Thus Ava had worn a rather pretty dress for the occasion, earning herself admiring gances from Robin, Will and Much - despite the fact that some of them liked other women. As Robin had said when Allan glared at him for daring to look at Ava (playing the father seemed to suit him) -

' She's a pretty girl! I'm not blind. '

As the other three stood away, in the shadows, Ava limped forwards, sniffing and wiping her eyes on her sleeve.

Both of the guards looked at her in concern, ' Are you alright Miss? ' one of them asked.

Ava shook her head slowly, moving towards the two men and pressing her soft chest up against one of them, ' My ankle,' she simpered, ' I think I may have sprained it.' she told him as she battted her eyelashes at him.

She edged herself closer to one of the men, who took the opportunity to leer down the top of her dress.

The other one moved behind her closely and brushed his hand upon her behind, ' I have not seen you around before,' he commented.

' I am a kitchen girl, I only started a few weeks ago,' she lied easily, ' I tripped up the stairs in the kitchen and twisted my ankle. I am on my way to the physician so she may check over it for me.' she pouted.

' Well, allow me to escort you,' one of the guards said, continuing to leer at her.

John and Allan took the opportunity to run out from their positions and take the guards out. It worked well and the two unconsious guards were dragged behind a shadowed pillar.

As the four of them entered the dungeons, which were now guardless, Allan congradulated his daughter on her impressive acting skills and lying ability, as Djaq told Ava how she had to hold Allan back to stop him attempting to kill the guards for the way they looked at her.

They moved through the dungeons, calling out, ' Mary!... Alison!...Joe!...Daniel! '

' Over here,' came a frantic whisper, from one of the cells the end of the dungeons.

The four people they seeked out were all in the same cell - which was obviously very securely locked.

' Do not fear,' Djaq whispered, ' We are with Robin Hood.'

To prove this, each of them pulled out their wooden tags to show to the imprisoned people, who nodded in acceptance. It was widey known that each of Robin Hood's gang wore the same tags to be identified by - they came in handy for situations like this.

' How are we going to get them out? ' Allan asked, realising that they did not have the keys to the cells.

Ava reached into the folds of her dress and pulled out a ring of metal that had several keys dangling from it.

' I managed to steal this from one of the guards,' she explained, ' They were both too preoccupied to notice.'

' Brilliant! ' Allan cheered, as Djaq began fumbling with the keys and finally unlocked the cell, allowing four very grateful prisoners to pour out.

' Now let's go! ' John ordered.

The four outlaws, plus the four escapees, ran through the castle, but where stopped in the kitchen by Gisbourne and two of his guards.

' Ha! ' said a dark haired man clad in leather, who Ava supposed was Guy of Gisbourne, ' You thought you could get away with springing prisoners from the cells and then running away? Hardly! Guards, get them! '

' Djaq - take those four and get out,' John yelled at her.

Djaq managed to do as she was told since John and Allan were engaging in duels with the two guards and Gisbourne had turned his attention towards Ava.

John thrust his staff forwards into stomack of the man he was fighting, winding him, and leaving him in no state to fight back. He then spun whirled around and hit the other guard in the face, knocking him straight out.

Gisbourne had engaed in a short duel with Ava, which was ended after he disarmed her and pinned her up against a wall. He pressed her up against the wall, holding her face roughly in one hand, and holding his sword in front of her stomach, dangerously close.

' So who might you be? ' Gisbourne asked in a sickly sweet voice, ' You are a new addition to the gang.'

Ava refused to answer, simply glaring at the noble man.

He stared at her for several long moments before sayin, his voice low, ' It is a shame that you have gotten yourself caught isn't it? It is a shame that a pretty young thing like yourself will have to be hung.'

' Father! ' Ava called out desperately.

' Let her go! ' Allan snarled, lifting up his longbow again.

Gisbourne laughed coldly looking from Ava to Allan and back again, ' Your daughter, A Dale? Well, this is interesting. I am sure the Sheriff would like to see an end to this happy little family.'

' I said let her go! ' Allan hissed through his teeth.

Gisbourne continued to glare around menacingly, ' You see this sword? One move and your precious daughter shall be impaled.'

The two guards who had been knocked out were now stirring and got to their feet, ready to fight again. At this point, five more guards entered the small kitchen.

There was a fierce battle - and with 7 people against 2, Allan and John were run out of the house and chased deep into the forest.

Ava was in trouble now.

--

Author's note: I am now thinking about the pairing of this story, and would like to know what you think?

Shall I be different and split Robin and Marian up to make it Ava/Robin?
Should I make it Will/Ava (I am personally unsure of this as I am a Will/Djaq shipper)
How about Ava/Much - he's a good guy and never seems to get a lot of attention, maybe he deserves some?
Or... shall I chnage the summary and the whole direction by making it Ava/Gisbourne?

Please let me know what you think, it would be good to get readers opinions on this!