Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood. It is all property of the BBC

Thank you to Mara Scarlett, Kayli andAmber-Rose for your support in this story, and thank you for your opinions on what pairing this should be.

Chapter 7

At the outlaw's camp Allan was pacing furiously up and down, whilst John leant on his staff deep in thought and Djaq watched the entrance tp the camp intently, waiting for the other three men to return.

Robin, Will and Much showed up shortly after Allan and John's return.

' The Sheriff had promised to take away his increase on the taxes,' Robin announced proudly.

' After my master threatened to shoot him, and even did maim his hand, Vaysey had no option but to give in,' Much declared.

The three newcomers noticed that there was a tension on the camp, and something was clearly not right.

' What is wrong? ' Will was the first to ask.

Much had noticed something,' Where is Ava?' he asked in concern.

' With Gisbourne,' Allan spat acidly.

John related the story to the people who did not know it, ' Gisbourne and his guards caught us as we were leaving. There were too many guards and they chased us out of th castle, after Gisbourne grabbed hold of Ava.'

Robin looked at Allan apologetically, ' I'm sorry Allan. It is my fault - I should have known she was not ready to go to the castle yet.'

Alla saw the look on dismayal upon Robin's face and clapped a hand on his shoulder, ' No, it's not your fault,' he assured the other man, ' it's mine, I should not have let her go.'

' It is no-one's fault,' Much declared, ' all this deciding who is to blame is losing us time that we should be using to save Ava.'

' He is right,' John agreed, ' We save Ava. We go to Nottingham.'

' What's the plan of action? ' Will asked, looking directly at Robin.

' I'm not sure,' Robin shrugged, ' We can go to the castle now and try to break her out, but the guards will be more alert now that we have been in once. Alternatively, we wait until tomorrow when her hanging is due and rescue her from there.'

' No,' Allan insisted, ' We cannot leave it that long, or we may miss our chance. We go as soon as possible.'

--

Meanwhile, Ava was in quite a predicament back at the castle.

After the departure of John and Allan, Gisbourne grabbed hold of Ava's forearm roughly and dragged her down the halls to the Sheriff's chambers.

He banged on the door loudly, ' My Lord, this is important! ' he called through the thick wood.

The Sheriff lazily called in reply, ' Well come in if you must,'

Gisbourne flung the door open and thrust Ava inside, following her into the room, where the Sheriff was stood with his back to the door.

' This had better be important Gisbourne,' the Sheriff said in a tone of voice that showed he did not care for whatever his right hand man had to say to him, ' I have already been bothered enough tonight. Robin Hood and his two friends - axe boy and the dumb blonde - were in here forcing me do decrease taxes and my guards tell me that the others - tall man, pretty boy and the saracen - helped four of my prisoners escape.'

' My Lord I have caught one of Hood's gang,' Gisbourne announced with a hint of pride in himself.

At this, the Sheriff turned around in interest and smiled in a creepy way when he saw Ava.

' Ah, hello my dear - you're a new one, aren't you? ' he asked her.

' Robin and the others will punish you for this! ' Ava hissed, ' they shall save me! '

' The girl is Allan A Dale's daughter,' Gisbourne told the Sheriff.

' Allan A Dale? ' the Sheriff asked, raising an eyebrow to emphasize that he did not recognise the name.

' Another of Hood's lot. Gobby one, different accent,' Gisbourne explained.

' Ah, yes, pretty boy,' the Sheriff nodded.

' Let me go! ' Ava cried, hitting Gisbourne across the face - the only part of him not to be covered in armour.

This suprised the man greatly - such insolence - so he raised his hand and struck her with great force, in return.

' Shall I take her to the cells? ' Gisbourne asked.

The Sheriff shook his head slowly, ' See if you can find out where Hood's camp is from her - by any means necessary. '

' And if she will not tell? ' Gisbourne asked.

' Which I won't! ' Ava yelled, only to be silenced with a glare from Gisbourne.

' As I said, any means neccesary, just keep her alive. If she does not give the location by this time tomorrow, then she hangs at dawn on Monday. Now leave.'