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

Chapter 38

After a tedious boat journey, where the conditions were not fit for even animals and almost everyone was permanently green from sea sickness with the awful swaying of the boat, Robin Hood and his band of outlaws finally arrived in the Holy Lands.

They disembarked the boat at the Port of Acre when all was still dark around, and the cold air whipped at their faces.

During the whole journey, Allan had been rather exluded by the others. John refused to talk to him at all. Robin and Djaq spoke to him when they had to, but their eyes were tainted with disappointment. Will and he, however, were on their way to returning to their brotherly relationship. Ava, of course, treat him fine, and they had in fact gotten closer. Much was reluctant to speak to Allan, but did so because he wanted to please Ava.

' Right, lads, Ava,' Robin said as they walked up the hill towards Acre town, ' work to do. Save Marian. Save the King. Save England. '

When they stopped at the top of the hill, just behind the great walls of the town, Robin and Djaq went to look over the walls to see what the situation was.

' But what if the King's moved on? ' Much asked,' what if he isn't in Acre? '

' Well then we find Djaq's uncle's friend, ' Robin called over his shoulder,' Bassam. '

' So what's Bassam, then? ' Allan frowned.

' He's a pigeeon handler,' Much supplied,' remember Lardner? '

' Oh,' Allan nodded,' the bird that the Sheriff got with his eagle? '

' That's what you think! ' Much laughed.

' We switched the pigeons,' Ava informed him.

' You're joking? ' Allan beamed, laughing in relief,' Nice one. So you got a messsage to the King, after all, yeah? '

' Yeah,' Much said,' well, though no thanks to you. '

Allan sighed,' Oh, look, I've told you 1000 times, I'm sorry boys, alright? I'm back now .. I'm one of the lads again ... we can't we just - '

Much cut him off with,' Now, hands up who hasn't betrayed the gang,' as he stuck his own hand in the air.

Will and John followed.

' Much! ' hissed Allan's daughter, giving him a glare that would surely knock him flat out, if looks could kill.

Allan rolled his eyes,' Oh, this one again, how clever,' he muttered.

' Just leave it, will ya? ' Ava replied with a frown.

' Yeah,' Robin said, reappearing,' we just want to find the King. '

' And Marian,' added Djaq, her voice laden with amusement.

Robin nodded mutely.

Djaq looked back over the ledge she had been surveying before, and back to Robin,' There are two guards,' she told him,' saracens, which means the town in back in the hands of my people. The town in under curfew and it will be dangerous, and the bad news is, your King will not be here . '

' Alright,' Robin nodded, to show that he was understanding, ' You find your friend Bassam. '

Which was how a short while later, they were creeping around the backstreets of the town, being careful to avoid the guards, and looking this way and that.

' Can I ask you something? ' Ava asked Robin, as she was wedged between he and Much as they crept together,' If these guards - and the people here - knew we were English, what ... what would they do to us? '

Robin turned back to face her for a moment and shook his head, ' We don't need to think about that. Don't worry about that - you're with me, and I won't let anything happen to any of my friends. '

Djaq, who was walking at the very front of the gang, turned around and whispered, ' Bassam's house - just around this corner. '

As they turned the corner, they saw that Bassam's house was a very grand, elegant looking one so different to the straight, spiky buildings of England, as it was topped with curved domes and was made of a pale brown, almost yellowing stone.

As they walked through the house, Djaq keeping her eyes peeled for Bassam, they passed through a room which was filled with the sound of coooing pigeons.

As the gang stopped to admire some of them, Djaq breathed a sigh of happiness, ' The whole place is just a beautiful as I remember. '

It was beautiful indeed - rich, colourful rugs and tapestries, shiny wooden furniture, the halls lined wiht exotic pot plants.

A voice called out incredolously,' Saffiyah? '

They all whipped around, knowing that Saffiyah was Djaq's birth name.

' Master Bassam ! ' Djaq cried, embracing the aging, short, squat man.

' You are still alive! ' he exclaimed.

' So are you! ' she returned, with a gleeful grin.

' Me? ' he laughed,' I'm always alive - my body may fall apart, but someone has to tend to these birds. '

' But you love them all,' she pointed out.

' I love you,' he told her,' you and your friends must all stay for somehting to eat. '

He then led them all into a room where they could make themselves comfortable, and left them there to 10 minutes whilst he and Djaq went to look and the birds and have a quick catch up.

Bassam blessed the food in arabic, which Robin and Much echoed, being able to speak a little - Robin fluently, and Much less so.

Robin then said a further sentence in arabic - something Ava didn't understand, though she picked out the name of "Allah" - the God that the saracens, amongst other people, all worshipped.

' Ah,' Bassam grinned,' he speaks our language.

Robin shrugged, ' You speak mine, so it seems only fair ... and I need to find our King. '

' Why? ' Bassam questioned, as a serving girl poured out drinks of water for them all.

' Because his life is in danger and i need to help him,' Robin replied.

' Save him? ' Bassam asked,' so that he can continue to rage war against my people? '

' No,' Robin emphasised,' save him so I can take him home and make peace, so he can save his own people, from some very unpleasant men. '

' Robin is a man of peace,' Djaq assured her old friend,' trust him. '

' Please,' added Robin, as the others watched with bated breath.

Bassam broke the silence with, ' His camp is to the North. I will show you, in the morning. '

Robin nodded gratefully,' Thank you. '

Bassam then went about showing them to rooms. He allocated one to Djaq and another to John before pushing open another door and smiling kindly at Ava,' This room for a pretty lady and her man? ' Bassam raised his eyebrows looking between Ava and Much - he did not miss a thing.

Ava blushed and smiled coyly at Much.

Allan frowned, ' No,' he said forcefully,' you are not sharing a room with him! You're not even married! '

' Dad! ' whined the young woman,' we're as good as married. Might I remind you we've been together since before I hit 17 - and I'm 19 and 2 months now ... that's exactly 2 years and 6 months! '

' I'm well aware of that, my girl, but you'll not be sleeping in the same room,' he replied, ever the protective father.

Ava merely glared at him as she entered the room, and turned in the doorway as Bassam led them away, calling out,' By the way, Dad, you do know that Much and I have been sleeping in the same bed at camp ever since you left, don't you? Let's see ... about 18 ... or maybe 20 ... months ago? Sleep well! '

Much sighed and rolled his eyes - taking the next available bed chamber and closing the door behind him quickly so Allan didn't have the chance to kill him.

Why couldn't you have picked a nice, quiet girl? he sighed to himself.

' Because she wouldn't be your Ava, and you wouldn't love her with every ounce of your being,' answered the voice in the back of his head, which he knew was true, and which caused him to smile as he clambered under the soft sheets of the bed.

True to his word, Bassam led them to the King's camp the next morning.

He walked them out of the town, over part of the desert, and nodded triumphantly as they stood ontop of a great hill, overlooking what seemed ot be lots of black dots.

' There,' he said,' your King's camp. '

On closer inspection, the black dots were not dots - but squares. They were the tents of the men who fought with and for the king. There were hundreds upon hundreds of them.

As Robin said his thanks to Bassam, and Djaq said her goodbyes, a shiver passed down Ava's spine as she thought of the amount of men out here fighting for the country, how many had died already not far from where she stood? How many wouldn't ever return home at the end of all this? How many would return broken people? What must this desert look like when both sides were engaged in combat ... the pure white sands covered in oozing red liquids.

Much, stood next to her as usual, sensed her discomfort and snaked an arm around her waist, pulling her close to him as the gang began to walk down the slope, approaching the camp.

' I know,' he said, though she had not spoken,' it gets eerie when you start to think about it, doesn't it? Don't dwell on it too much, because this is what we're aiming to stop. With any luck, we can stop it all. '

Ava continued to take in the sights around her, only half listening when Robin told the guard at the front of the camp what business they had. Not registering what Much was telling her about the latin motto of the King's Private Guard, not laughing when he told her he hadn't the foggiest idea what it meant.

She only brought herself out of her reverie when a figure clad in white, with a red cross down the middle of the robes came to stand in front of them.

' Carter! ' Robin cired, embracing the man,' I thought you had given up fighting? '

' I'm still fighting,' Carter said as he shook Much's hand,' but for peace. Ah Ava! ' Carter grinned embracing the young woman fondly - she had rather decided the liked her as a friend when he was in England with the gang.

' I never recieved that wedding invite,' he told her mock-sternly, a smirk crossing his features,' and I was so looking forward to being a bridesmaid for you. '

' We haven't had the wedding yet,' Ava informed him, ' first we were waiting for my father to reconcile with the gang, and whenhe did, we had to rush off here, so there's not been the opportunity. '

' Hopefully soon though,' Much added,' we've no reason to wait now, have we? '

Although he was talking to Carter, it was more directed to Ava, who smiled upon hearing this declaration.

' Look,' Robin muttered,' the King's tent.'

As if on cue, a man departed the tent and stood looked out at them,' Robin of Locksley,' he called in a majestic voice.

Robin dropped to his knees at once, as did the others,' Your majesty,' he acknowledged.

' I should bow before you, friend,' the King said with a kindly smile,' Come, and your friends too.'

Robin and Much lead the way as they followed the King and Carter in to the royal tent. Allan and Ava followed, with John at the rear. Will and Djaq were a short way behind up the path, as they had been dawdling along on their own.

Standing before the King of England made Ava understandably nervous - well, petrified if she was going to be honest with herself. She kept close to Allan's side, and Much and Robin were in front of them. Carter stood on her other side, offering her a comforting smile.

' Robin,' the King said simply.

' Your majesty,' Robin sighed,' I bring grave news. You recieved my messages, I trust? '

' I did,' nodded the King.

' Then you will know that the Sheriff of Nottingham and the Black Knights are plotting against you. They are planning to take over England.'

The King exchanged with the guards who stood either side of him,' That's what you said, and I believe you.'

Robin continued quickly,' But now the Sheriff is coming here, to find you and kill you. '

' Really? ' asked the royal.

' You have to let me protect you,' Robin pleaded.

' I must allow you to protect me? ' echoed the King - who was of average height, though well built, and had blonde hair that swept across his forehead.

' Yes,' stressed Robin.

Ava felt a presence behind her and turned to see that Will and Djaq had entered the back of the tent, and were ready to listen to what the King had to say.

What the King had to say, once his eyes met the newcomers, was most peculiar.

' Oh Robin,' he said, shaking his head,' of all people .. you.'

' Your majesty? ' frowned Robin.

' Of all the men who have served me, who are the one I have loved most,' he declared, though his grave voice did not match his kind words.

' And I cherish that,' Robin acknowledged.

' When I sent you home to England, I thought I was sending a piece of me, I thought you would represent me there,' continued King Richard - there was now something odd about it, the gang thought, exchanged weary looks.

Robin frowned,' In a small way, I think I have.'

' Robin stop it, I know the truth! ' the King insisted.

' What truth? ' Robin asked in confusion,' your majesty you are in danger! '

' Why? ' demanded the other,' have I not done right by you? '

' Yes you have! ' Robin said frantically,' and I've come here to save you.'

' Still you deny it,' Richard's voice was now low and dangerous,' you deny that you have come here to murder your King! '

' Your majesty, no,' Carter interjected,' I can vouch for Robin. When I was in England -'

But alas, he was cut of by his boss,' Quiet! You,' he said, glaring at Robin,' are a renowned marksman with a bow, are you not.'

' I am.'

' Then you,' he ranted on,' would have killed my enemies a 1000 times over. You expect me to believe that you would travel to the Holy Land to protect your King, instead of simply aiming an arrow in Nottingham?! '

' You majesty,' Much tried,' we couldn't just shoot the Sheriff -'

' Silence! ' roared the King.

' We can explain! ' Much insisted.

One of the guards moved forward and had struck Much harshly across the face in one swift motion, knocking him backwards.

' You fiend! ' Ava hised in the direction of the King's guard, kneeling to look at her beloved's face - the lip of which was spurted a little blood.

' Assemble the men,' the King ordered of his guards,' execute them. All of them.'

There was a struggle as the gang were stripped of their overcoats until they stood in their thin pants and shirts. Each of them tried to struggle, but it was useless against the numbers and forces of the men.

They were shoved outside of the tent and made to face the King's tent - guards surrounding them. Ava hoped she didn't look as terrified as she felt inside - they weren't really going to get killed were they? After all they'd done fighting against the country, they came here to save the king's life, and this was their reward?

' Have mercy, your majesty! ' Much called out.

' Your majesty,' Robin tried,' these people are innocent - if you must take a life, take mine. Spare them. '

Ava inwardly sighed - always so bloody noble.

The King regarded Robin with great scrutiny, ' At last,' he said,' that's the Robin I remember - considering others.'

' He is still that man! ' Ava insisted.

' He saved your life, don't you remember that? ' Much probed.

The King took a few steps closer to them, looking softer in the face,' I cannot grant your wish,' he sighed,' you must all be punished, but you once saved my life and I have not forgotten that. So I'll not take yours. I'll let the desert decide! '

' The desert? ' echoed Much,' what does that mean? '

' Decide what? ' Ava called out.

Both questions were ignored and the gang were pulled harshly by the King's guards, marched across the deserts, their hands tied tightly behind their backs. The King and a few of his private guard followed along behind on horseback.

Once they reached the middle of the deserted desert, they were held fast on place whilst some of the men hammered posts in to the ground, and them tied the gang by their ankles and wrists, with some rope to the poles.

There were two rows of them. Allan, Robin, Ava and Much. Djaq was behind, between Allan and Robin, Will between Robin and Ava, and John between Ava and Much.

' This is the same as execution,' Will told his King.

' Yes,' the King agreed,' but if God wills it, there is always a chance. '

Robin huffed.

' I'll not remember you this way, Robin,' the King told his loyal man,' I'll remember you as the hero who once saved my life.'

' And I'll remember you as the King who spent too long at war,' Robin retorted,' it has clouded your judgement. You've forgotten about your people.'

' You're right,' Richard said evenly,' it is time to stop this fighting. I'm meeting Saladin today, I will make peace with him, and then I will go home to England. '

' Good,' came the simple reply,' at least my friends and I will have achieved something. '

' Goodbye. '

And with that, the King left, taking his men with him. Carter took one last long look at them before turning his back on them.

The heat was unbearable - within 20 minutes they were sweating awfully, without the outer clothes they had previously been wearing to shield them from the heat. Beads of sweat covered their faces, their hair sticking to their foreheads, the heat making them tired, and weary. They had little conversation as they could think of little to say in the bleak situation.

' How long? ' Ava asked of no one in particular, everyone knowing what she meant.

' In this heat? ' Djaq replied,' without water? ' The blowing of air from her mouth was the indication of what little hope she had for them - they all knew what slim chance they had.

' I'm sorry, my love,' Much said, turning his head in her direction, and looking sincerley apologetic,' I should have made you stay at home .. where it was safer. '

Ava shook her head slightly, determination in her voice,' I would never leave you, Much Miller .... Much Bonchurch. '

Will sighed,' If we could just get through the nightfall, then you know ... '

' Then what? ' John cut in.

' It'll be cooler,' Will said.

' Cooler? ' echoed Allan incredolously,' it'll be freezing. '

' I know,' Will admitted,' but it won't be this hot ... this heat ... '

' We do not have until nightfall,' Djaq said sadly.

Time pased by....

So slowly....

Time passed by....

So slowly....

Even slower than their time trapped in the barn ...

So slowly.....

More and more tired they grew, heads lolling on chests, eye lids lazily drooping.

After a while, Ava said,' We're not getting out of this one, are we? '

' Doesn't look like it, my girl,' Allan muttered.

' Oh God, oh god, oh god,' Ava rambled, wondering if the heat was going to drive her insane, ' I'm never going to have my life. I'll never get married. Much, I'm never going to be your wife,' she whined.

Will cleared his throat, ' Why don't you get married here? '

' No,' Much said,' not like this. That would be admitting we're definitly going to die, wouldn't it? '

' We're probably going to die here anyway, you know,' sighed John,' you're never going to get another chance. '

' No, you're right,' Ava said,' we have to have some hope. And besides - we should all be saving our energy. '

There was a moment of silence, which was broken by Robin muttering, ' Marian. '

The others looked at each other in suprise - was he hallucinating - a mirage?

His gaze was fixed firmly on the horizon of the nearest dune, ' Marian! ' he repeated, in an excited whisper.

Ava tried to fix her gaze on the same spot, and saw it too, ' I can really see something,' she whispered incredolously,' there's really someone there ... someone coming. '

They all watched with bated breath as the figure came a little closer.

Each called for help, though their voices were strained through lack of water.

' She's seen us! ' Much cried.

' God is smiling on us! ' Djaq laughed.

' Or Allah,' Will added.

' Whichever God it is, I love him,' Much declared.

' It's the Sheriff,' Allan said disheartened, causing their own hearts to droop.

And as they looked on in horror, they saw that Marian was flanked by the Sheriff on one horse, and one of the King's guards on the other.

' There is no God,' Much hissed.

The three on horseback came to a halt just in front of them, the Sheriff dismounting, whilst the guard grabbed Marian and pulled her down, dragging her over to the posts.

' Ah,' the Sheriff said,' you see, that's the trouble with foreign travel - you see all the same people you see at home. '

' You're revoltin' ' Ava snapped, as the Sheriff sneered at them, and the other man began tying Marian to the same post Robin was, back to back.

' A revolt, little girl,' the Sheriff said,' is when people rise up against their leader. Now, I'm not revolting, I am merely plotting a sudden and decisive change of leader. '

' What about murder? ' Robin asked.

' If the King,' the Sheriff said,' will wander out into the desert, alone, unarmed, ready to meet his enemy, then ... '

' The King wants peace,' Much pointed out,' you're killing a man who's trying to make peace. '

' Hmmmm,' acknowledged the evil man,' yes, life's usually so much fairer. '

' If I ever get my 'ands on you,' Ava hissed,' I'll bloody kill you with my own two 'ands. '

' You're certainly an outspoken one,' the Sheriff said, approaching her and grasping her jaw tightly with one hand,' you're wasted on common outlaws like these. '

' They're my friends and I love them all, ' the young girl replied honestly.

The Sheriff scoffed,' You could go far if you wanted to, and if you mixed in the right circles. It makes me wonder what could have happened if we'd have gotten you on our side - you could have been great, you know. Still could be ... maybe we can work something out? And Gisbourne could do with a pretty little toy. '

' I'd sooner die,' Ava said.

' Funny, looks like you will,' the Sheriff laughed, backhanding her cheek, and moved out of her reach quickly.

' Leave her alone! ' Allan yelled at the same time Much made a swipe for the Sheriff.

' Awwww,' mocked the evil man, looking at Much,' Am I bullying your precious girlfriend? You're never going to be able to marry her .... you'll never touch her again ... you'll never see her pretty little blue eyes after today ... and Robin - you'll never see your girlfriend either, will you? Because you're all going to die out here. '

' Just let Marian go,' Robin demanded,' she's got nothing to do with this.'

' She's got everything to do with this!' the Sheriff snarled, striding up and standing very close to Allan, and getting right up in his face,' All along, we thought we had a spy in your camp! ' He hit Allan sharply across the face, causing a cry of outrage from Ava.

The tyant moved onto Robin,' but you had one in ours,' he said more softly.

Robin smirked,' There will always be people who work for me - because I fight for justice. '

' Lah di dah di dah,' the Sheriff said simply,' I'd love to stay, but I don't tan well. Do excuse me, I've got a King to kill, come along James.'

The guard - James, apparently, mounted his horse, and the two left, galloping away.

' I'm sorry,' Robin said immediately.

' I'm sorry too,' Marian replied.

' We fought and we lost,' Robin told her.

' At least we will have died trying. '

' I want to die in England,' John said,' Sherwood,' he whined.

' Come on John,' Much sighed,' todays a good day to die - you're always saying it. '

' Today is NOT a good day to die! ' John insisted.

Ava moaned,' Not bein' funny, but there's never a good day to die. ' At this, Allan's lips twitched into a small smile.

John continued,' I want to die in the arms of my wife ... and with my son, John, by my side. '

' Hey John,' Robin called,' you're dying for England, even if you're not there. '

' Not bein' funny,' Allan interjected,' but it's the King of England who put us here in the first place.'

' The Sheriff spun him a story! ' Robin yelled,' the moment we arrived here we were marked men ... and women. It's not the King's fault. '

There was apause, this time broken by Marian.

' Well, say the words then handsome,'

' What words? ' Robin asked.

Marian sighed,' I Robin, take you, Marian ... '

' Now? ' Robin asked.

' Now is a good time, I think,' Marian agreed,' we are in the company of the best witnesses England has to offer. '

Robin obliged,' I Robin, take you, Marian, ' he began.

Allan, and Ava turned to look at Robin, whilst Much tried to look past Ava, to see Robin. The other three were watching Marian.

' To be my lawful wedded wife,' the prince of thieves continued,' to have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health ...' he took a deep breath,' to love and to cherish, till death do us part. '

There were tears in his eyes and his facial expression was one of great pain and sorrow.

Marian took over,' I Marian, take you, Robin of Locksley, master of the bow, champion of the poor, and lord of my heart, to be my lawful wedded husband. '

By now, Robin was now very close to tears, as were some of the others.

Marian continued,' To love and to cherish you, for better or for worse, from this day forward, as long as we both shall live. '

When she finished, it was Much who was sobbing - sobbing when he thought of how their love would soon be broken up ... as would his own.

' Much,' Marian said softly, ' don't cry. '

' I'm not,' Much insisted.

' He's not,' another voice said,' he's laughing on the wrong side of his face. '

Cries of reliefs and laughs of joy ensued as they saw Carter.

Carter, their saviour, their rescuer, their hero, dismounted his horse, and took out a knife, begining to cut the ropes which held the gang.

When Carter cut Ava free from her posts, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly and planted a kiss on his cheek, ' My god, I love you,' she squealed.

Carter laughed,' I know, but what about this guy here? '

He jerked his thumb towards Much, who - rather than chastitise her for throwing herself at Carter - captured her lips with his own and kissed her passionately.

' C'mon, lovebirds,' Robin said, ' we have a King to save. '

' We are Robin Hood,' John said.

' What? ' Carter asked, with raised eyebrows.

' We'll explain later,' Will dismissed.

' Say it,' John ordered.

And for one of the first times ever, they all chorused,' We are Robin Hood,' without any complaints.

They mounted the horses that Carter had brought with him, and cantered across the desert after taking exentsive drinks of water, heading for the path the King would take to meet Saladin.

Except they knew it was a set up by the Sheriff - the man who the King met would not be the Prince Saladin, but an assasin who would kill the King.

The King, dressed in his formal red robes, looked down at them, startled.

' The desert decided,' Robin grinned.

After conversations with the King, Robin managed to put a plan in to action.

It was Robin, dressed in the King's regal robes, who went into the designated place to meet "Saladin."

They all hid behind a dune, watching the action, and they knew that the Sheriff and his cronies would be at the other side.

They watched as Robin and the other man approached each other.

The other man whipped off his cloak, pulled out a dagger and said,' I am not really Prince Saladin.'

Robin pulled off his own cloak and retorted,' I am not really King Richard,'

The two men circled one another, before breaking out into fierce combat, their swords clanging against each other.

' Now you believe us? ' Much asked the King as they lay in watch.

' I have betrayed your loyalty,' the King Richard said,' how can I ever repay you? '

' Well,' Much said,' actually, I know this is not the time, your majesty, but there is a place in Nottingham called Bonchurch that I'm rather fond of, and -'

' Much! ' hissed John.

' Sorry, forget about it, ' Much sighed.

The sparring continued, until John announced,' C'mon, we've waited long enough, let's go, he need us. '

They all mounted their horses, and galloped down the steep slope, towards the place Robin and the assasin were.

The assasin, on seeing them all, mounted his own horse and retreated to where the Sheriff and Gisbourne were, at the other side of the dune.

The three villans rode away, and the gang - including Marian, Carter and the King - followed the at top speed, determined to do what they had come here to do.

The chase entered a small town, and as they did so, something hit Much's horse, spooking the horse and throwing Much to the ground.

Because of the lack of horses Carter had been able to acost, Ava had been sharing her partner's, and ws also thrown to the ground sharply.

Robin threw himself off his, pulling Marian with him,' This is a trap,' said he, as the four of them looked at each other,' are you two alright? '

' Yeah,' Ava replied.

' No thanks to those idiots,' added Much.

The rest of the gang joined up with them - with the exceptions of Carter and the King.

' Where's the King? ' Robin asked quickly.

' Went after the Sheriff,' Much answered in rather a panic.

' We need to get him out of here,' Robin demanded, as they drew their various weapons and ran off down the streets in search,' split up, but stay in pairs! '

And off they went, Will and Djaq, Ava and Much, Marian and Robin, and Allan and John.

They ran down roads looking for the men they needed to be rid of, and the man they needed to at all costs protect.

Ava clambered on to a roof top to get a good view of the surrounding area, and indeed spotted the King.

She was rather startled when the King appeared to throw a sharp missile at her, but the object skimmed right past her and hit someone behind her - she turned to see the assasin had been about to strike upon her, and was now bleeding to death.

Much grabbed her wrist and dragged her away, chopping off the head of a man who was trying to throttle Robin to death, in the process.

As the pair ran around, they ended up getting split up, and it was Ava who came to the courtyard, where she saw the King, a wound in his arm, was laying on the ground, whilst Gisbourne was approching.

' Gisbourne! ' she yelled, running over and brandishing her sword at him,' you're not going to do this - I won't let you. '

' Get out of the way, stupid girl! ' he roared, lifting his own mighty sword up to her as she tried to block it.

' You're not going to do this. ' she told him simply.

' I'll kill you,' Gisbourne told her,' I'll kill you and I won't even care. '

She looked around nervously for someone - anyone of their gang - and in that moment, Gisbourne disarmed her, taking her sword and pulling her close to him, a dangerous look upon his face.