Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood, it is property of the BBC

This chapter will follow the actual series 1 plot properly, though with Ava thrown in there, so a lot of this chapter is not my own work.

Chapter 11

A few days after the dance, there was to be severe weather, so the gang were moving into a cave.

' I hate the cave,' Much declared, as the gang approached said cave, with some supplies they knew that they would need for the next few days, as well as the horse that Ava been using when she first met the outlaws, which the gang had kept as it came in useful to have a horse sometimes.

' But it's dry in there,' Allan pointed out.

' It's dark, ' Much countered, ' and it's, you know, horrible.'

' We Voted Much,' Robin sighed exasperatedly.

' You lost, 6-1,' Allan added.

' Yeah, well I should have two votes because I really don't like the cave,' Much declared at they all entered it, ' In fact, I should have two votes because I really, really don't like the cave.'

Suddenly a bat flew over Much's head, ' Ah! ' he yellled in annoyance,' Bats. I hate bats. Bats are rats. Rats with wings. '

' No, they are intelligent,' Djaq told him as the gang all set their things down, ' they make noises you cannot hear.'

' What's the point of that? Noises you can't 'ear,' Allan commented.

Ava shook her head, ' The other bats can hear it Father. It's how they communicate.'

At that moment, Will ran into the cave. He had been a bit behind because he had been into Locksley village to fetch some extra furs to keep everyone warm.

As Allan and Much began sharing the furs out, Will leant against the side of the cave, breathing heavily.

' Will? What's the matter? ' Robin asked, causing everyone else to turn their attention to Will.

' The king is coming,' Will announced.

' Richard? To England? ' Much asked in shock.

' Yeah, that'll be right,' said John scornfully.

Will shook his head, ' It's not a rumour John. I spoke to Thornton, he heard Gisbourne talking.'

' To England? ' Much confirmed.

' To Nottingham,' Will corrected,' they say he is going to land at Hull and come here on his way to London.'

' The king? To Nottingham? Well, this is good isn't it? ' Much asked, ' The king? Oh, this is a good day. The king is coming! '

Ava noticed Will looked quite distressed and put out a hand to silence Much, ' Can you just shut up? '

' No,' Much replied, ' This is what we've been waiting for. The Sheriff will be outed, and Gisbourne. Then Robin can go home, I can go home, Little John - '

' Little John's an outlaw,' Allan cut across, ' We all are.'

' Robin will pardon you, obviously,' Much snapped.

Will still looked unnerved.

' Will? ' Robin asked him, ' Tell me. Go on, tell me.'

Will spoke reluctantly, ' Gisbourne is saying that... now the king's coming back, Gisbourne is saying...'

Robin understood, ' Gisbourne is saying he will marry Marian.'

The others looked at Robin's crestfallen face pitifully.

' She will never go through with it,' Robin said, though he did not seem at all confident.

' Gisbourne is saying the wedding is on Saturday,' Will told him.

Robin looked at Will in suprise and them looked towards the fire that Allan had helped Ava light, in dismay.

' I must go and speak with her,' Robin said, more to himself that anyone else.

--

Robin later came back to the camp looking fairly pleased with himself.

' I have found a way to stop Marian's wedding,' he declared.

' Really? Well, that brilliant,' Ava grinned, ' How? '

' In my absense here, whilst I was in the Holy Land, Gisbourne fell ill, but he was actually in the Holy Land trying to kill the King. Thornton said no-one but the physician was allowed to see him, so if I can get this physician to speak against Gisbourne, then Gisbourne will be declared a traitor to the crown and Marian will not have to marry him.'

' So we are paying a visit to this physician? ' Much asked.

' We are,' Robin confirmed, ' His name is Pitts and he lives on Marely Street in Nottingham Town.'

--

On Marely Street in Nottingham, Much, John and Djaq went on ahead, each wearing cloaks that hid their faces.

' Master! ' Much hissed backwards, ' All clear! '

Robin then rounded the corner and led Much, John and Djaq into the physician's, which was empty. Will, Allan and Ava brought up the rear.

' The physician is on his way,' Djaq told the others.

Robin stood in the shadows, by the door, with John on the other side of the door. Djaq stood with them.

Will, Ava, Allan and Much stood at the other side of the room so Pitts had no way to exit once he entered his cottage.

' I was thinking,' Much said to the three people around him, ' we spend our like skulking and hiding in the shadows, I've grown used to it. It shall be strange when it's over.'

' Hard to imagine,' Will mused.

' Soon it will be real,' Much carried on, ' when Gisbourne is exposed, Robin will be restored and I will have my lodge, my Bonchurch.'

Will turned to his best friend, his partner in crime and asked, ' Allan, what will you do? '

' Me? ' Allan grinned, ' Well, I'll live in my lodge, that I'll get for services to the king. With servants and all that. What about you? '

' Carpentry, I suppose,' Will replied, ' Wood. Ava? '

' I'll live with Father,' she replied, which Allan looked pleased at, ' at least until I can find some rich man to marry.'

Alla laughed shortly, ' There do not seem to be any nice rich men around, I think you'll find. They're all like Gisbourne, and you certainly aren't marrying one of that lot.'

' We'll be nice rich men,' Will pointed out, ' Me, Much and Robin.'

' Yeah, but she's hardly going to marry one of you lot, is she? ' Allan asked rhetorically.

Will smirked and muttered under his breath, ' I wouldn't bet on that.'

Suddenly, the door opened and Pitts walked in carrying a basket of fruit from the marketm which he lay down on the table, not having seen the outlaws since they were all hidden in the shadows.

Pitts poured himself a drink and was sipping from a goblet when he noticed John, Djaq and Robin.

' I have nothing of value,' he said, setting down his drink and raising his palms in the air.

' What was the trick? ' Robin asked.

' What trick? ' Pitts returned.

' You are the physician who treated Guy of Gisbourne in Locksley a year ago? '

' You're Robin,' Pitts realised.

' What was the trick? ' Robin repeated.

' There was no trick,' Pitts insisted.

' I see,' said Robin, although he did not buy it, ' so tell me, what illness did he have? '

A flash of panic hit the physician's face, ' Difficult to say, fever, contagtion, the humours out of balance.'

' Do not lie,' Robin commanded.

' He was very ill, and he is lucky to be alive.'

' I do not have time for this.' Robin said, his voice dangerously hard, 'you will tell me the truth.'

Pitts laughed, ' You're a peace lover, I have heard, you will not harm me.' The man turned to take a back exit, but was faced with Much, Allan, Ava and Will, all of whom had their weapons - be it bow and quiver pr sword - out.

Pitts turned back to face Robin, who threw a small knife into the wooden beam that was only mere inches above the man's head.

' You think you do Gisbourne an innocent favour,' Robin jeered, ' but you do not. This is a matter of treason, admit your part now and when King Richard returns, I will speak for you.'

Pitts nodded shakily, ' I established a quarantine. The servants prepared their master's meals, I took the meals in to him. I sat there for an hour at a time, ate the meals myself, brought out empty dishes.'

' You're a fool,' Robin told him, moving closer and putting his hand on his hips.

' I meant no harm,' Piits insisted, ' Sir Guy had business in London.'

' He had business in the Holy Land. He tried to kill the King.' Robin informed him acidly.

Pitts looked shocked at this piece of information, ' I had no idea, forgive me. What can I do? '

' I will require you to speak in evidence before the King.'

' I...um...really? ' the physician seemed reluctant to do so.

Robin gave him a sharp glare. Ava amn Much raised their swords, as Will and Allan raised their respective axe and longbow. Not that they had any intention of actually harming the man, of course. It was just for effect.

Pitts gulped, ' Yes.'

Robin patted the man's cheek patronisingly, ' Good decision. Men, Ava, let's go.'

Robin had now stopped referring to the gang as 'men' when he was talking to the lot of them, as Ava always protested. Djaq had no problem with it though. He now used 'men, Ava,' or 'men and Ava,' when adressing them as a whole, often giving Ava a flashy grin to go with it.

--

Later on, Robin decided to go deliver the good news to Lady Marian.

It was getting late now, so she would be at home - Knighton Hall.

The whole gang went along.

Whilst the others stood around the corner from Marian's bedroom window, Robin climbed the ivy and leant into the room.

' Marian? ' he whispered, ' Pssst! Marian! '

Shaking his head as he realised she was not there, he clambered back down, and headed over to the others.

' The torches are on but there's no one home,' Robin told the gang.

' Oh,it's like Much,' Allan smirked, causing everyone except Robin - who was too busy thinking - and Ava, to laugh.

' Just ignore him,' Ava muttered so that only Much could hear. For this, he gave her a warm smile, which she returned, trying to control the odd fluttering sensation in her stomach and the heat rising to her cheeks. Perhaps she was coming down with something, she made a mental note to have Djaq check it later on.

' Where could she be? ' Robin asked himself.

' Maybe she's run away, to avoid marrying Gisbourne,' Wil offered.

' Not Marian,' Robin told him, ' she's not the running kind.'

After a moment's pause during which Robin thought about the argument he had had with Marian earlier that day, before going to see Thornton - Robin had accused her of never doing anything, and she had retaliated by saying she did plenty, as the nightwatchman.

' I know where she is! ' he exclaimed, ' Quick, let's go! She's stealing Gisbourne's money! '

' Oh, good work,' Allan praised the woman.

--

The 7 outlaws entered Locksley Manor House and disarmed the few guards that were downstairs.

They arrived in time to see Sir Guy pounding on his own bedroom door - the place where he kept his valuables, as Marian knew since he had invited her around earlier that same day to show her all wht would be hers after her wedding.

Robin shot an arrow at the door, barely missing Gisbourne's fingertips, as intended.

' Mind if I join in? ' he called.

Gisbourne whipped around furiously,' Locksley,' he snarled.

Each of the outlaws were holding bow and arrows - despite the fact that it was not the weapon most of the used.

' Have you heard the good news? ' Gisbourne taunted, ' I'm to marry Marian.'

As he spoke, Marian slowly opened the door and tried to sneak down the stairs behind Guy's back. It did not work as he saw her - though of ourse he did not know it was her - and ran a few steps in front of her.

' I will think about you when I take her to the marriage bed,' Gisbourne chuckled.

Robin smirked, ' Now, now Gisbourne. You know I do not swing that way.'

Having being caught off guard by Robin's last comment, Marian hit Gisbourne in the face with as much strength as she had, causing him to tumble down all of the stairs and land in a heap at the bottom.

When Marain - dressed as the nightwatchman - ran past his form on the ground, he lifted his upper body up and plunged his fist in to her stomach.

At least, they all - with the exception of Marian and Gisbourne - thought it was a punch. Tey later learnt that it was a small dagger.

Robin kicked Gisbourne in the face before calling out, ' Get the money! ' to his comrades.

Will grabbed the big black bag of money and valuables that Marian had gathered from Gisbourne's room.

' I've got it! ' he confirmed.

One by one the outlaws exited the Manor House, making sure to take down any guards that were in the way.

Will, Ava and Allan were the last people left in the house.

' Will, go, go,' Allan ordered, ' and look after Ava! ' he called after his best friend.

Will obliged and slung the sack of money over one shoulder, grabbed Ava's forearm with his free hand and ran.

' Night Gents,' Allan smirked, before running also.

Once outside, Robin looked around at his gang,

' Split up, twos and threes, you know where to meet,' he told them.

Robin ran off with one arm around Marian.

Allan grabbed Ava's wrist and at the same time, Will went to grab her other.

It had now become second nature to Allan to always make sure Ava was alright first.

Will was always there to look out for her too, since he was closest to her father. Whenever they were on a mission and Allan was not with his daughter, he knew he could count on Will. Robin and the others too, like, but mostly on Will.

A lot of the things that the gang did requred them to split into twos and threes. Most of the time there was no time to think about these things, and you had to go with whomever was stood closest to you at that moment in time.

' William, Ava,' Allan grinned like a madman, ' Run! '

--

After what seemed like an age of running, they - Will, Allan and Ava came to a clearing and Allan decided to sit down on a large stone.

Will and Ava exchanged we-might-as-well-go-along-with-it looks, and Will sat down next to Allan, Ava sitting on Will's other side.

It was raining, so each pulled the hoods of their cloaks up around their faces.

Allan was examining the contents of the 'Big Black Bag of Gisbourne's Valuables' as Ava was so unimaginatively named it.

' Whoah, look at this,' Allan laughed in glee, ' Great stuff.'

' The others will be waiting for us,' said Will - always the rational one.

Ava nodded, ' Father, we should get goin'.'

Allan shrugged, ' Hmm. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? ' he asked Will.

Will simply said, ' No.'

' Well if you're not thinking it, how d'you know what it is? ' retorted Allan

' I don't think like you do,' Will pointed out. Ava agreed with this statement.

' I'm not bein' funny but maybe you should.'

' What? ' Will asked.

' You think Robin's goin' to need us when he's a Lord again, huh? ' he asked.

Will was now listeneing in mild interest, and Ava had leant forward to pay proper attention too.

' It's alright for them, innit? ' Allan continued, ' Much with his lodge, what're we goin' to 'ave? '

Allan looked meaningfully at the Big Black Bag of Gisbourne's Valuables.

' That should go to the poor,' Ava told him.

' That's us now,' Allan declared, ' Look, we're outlaws now, but we 'ad jobs before and we got nothin' now. We are the poor. You know what this is? '

' What? ' asked Will rolling his eyes for Ava to see.

' It's our due pay,' Allan continued.

--

After a long conversation, Allan had started to convince Will and Ava that they should leave.

The three of them walked to the main road.

' Ah this is it,' Allan declared, ' The great North Road. So which way are we goin' to go? Back to the cave, or pastures new? '

' What if they need our 'elp, the others? ' Ava asked worridley. By the look on his face, Will shared her worry and unsurity about what they should do.

' What for, they got away didn't they? ' Allan asked her, raising an eyebrow.

Ava shrugged and sighed.

Allan looked over at Will, ' Where did your old man go, and your brother, when they ran away?'

' Scarborough,' replied Will with a hint of longingness in his eyes, ' To my Auntie Annie's.'

' Well,' Allan grinned, ' I wouldn't mind meetin' your Auntie Annie. What d'you reckon? '

Will grinned and nodded, ' Suppose it'd be nice to see my family again.'

' Ava? You're in, right? ' Allan asked her. He had just assumed that since he was going, she would go too. There was no way he could leave her behind.

' I do not know, Father,' she sighed, ' We cannot just leave.'

' Sure we can,' Allan countered, ' We just walk down the road a few miles to the carriage place, then get one from there so Scarborough.'

' But we cannot just leave Robin,' she cried, ' and Much... and the others.'

' Do you know what I was thinking? ' Allan asked, looking from Ava to Will as he spoke, ' I was thinking that Robin would want this for us. He would. He'd want what's best for us. Especially you Ava, he adores you, you're like the sister he never had aren't you? He'd want what's best for all of us.'

' And Much? ' Ava continued in frustration,' and the others? '

' Who cares what Much, of all people, thinks? ' Allan laughed.

Will knew what was coming - he could see why Ava cared. He had seen the look on her face when he walked in to an area - it lit up.

' I do, Father,' she declared.

' But why? ' Allan asked in confusion - it was only Much, for goodness sake.

' Because I think I love him! ' she shouted, earning her self a knowing look from Will and an annoyed look from her father.

' Ava Mara A Dale,' Allan muttered, using her full name, ' Tell me you're not serious.'

She shook her head, ' I can't father, because it's true. I'm in love with Much.'