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

Chapter 39

Gisbourne looked at her menacingly,' You should know, girl, that I am not a man to be messed with. '

The tip of the blade of the sword poked gently against her stomach, and she took a deep breath, forcing herself to meet his eyes, ' Can you really do it? ' she asked him,' my father was a loyal man to you ... he was becoming a friend. Can you really do that to someone who served you so loyally? A young woman, no less... Leave another man without the woman he loves .... An unarmed woman with her whole life ahead of her. A woman who's currently no threat at all to you, and who's begging you. Well, can you? '

For a moment, something flickered in Gisbourne's eyes - almost compassion, she thought, until she decided that this was Gisbourne, and he had no conscience or sense of right and wrong doing.

And rather remarkably, Gisbourne shoved her away from him and shook his head, as if so signal that he couldn't do it to her.

He himself looked quite suprised at what he had done, before he spoke in a low voice.

' Get away from here,' he told her dangerously, ' leave me, and tell no one that I have spared you. I shouldn't have done it ... the Sheriff would not be happy. '

She sighed,' You see, Gisbourne, you're capable of being a nice guy ... why couldn't you have done the right thing, and joined our side ... the moral, decent side. '

There was a pause, during which Ava thought she saw somethin more in his eyes - possibly regret. The moment was broken off by Gisbourne heaving a sigh this time, ' Leave,' he said simply.

Ava looked behind her, ' But ... the King ... ' she trailed off, looking on as he lay on the ground, knowing Gisbourne wanted to finish him off.

Gisbourne rolled his eyes,' I just spared your life once, girl, I can't afford to do it again. '

Before either could do anything else, another voice entered the frame.

' Guy! ' Marian called out, running over to them,' Stop, leave Ava alone ... just leave her. '

She raised her hands in surrender, to show that she had no weapon, as had Ava, since Gisbourne still held hers as well as his own, from his previous disarming of her.

Ava rolled her eyes,' Thank you, Marian, but I'm fine ... it's fine. '

Gisbourne shoved Ava behind him, so she could not rush to the King's aid.

He pointed one sword forward at Marian, and the other back at Ava, looking between them both.

' It's over, Guy,' Marian told the man clad in black leather,' all this time I have been fighting for England - you think I am going to let you kill England? '

' Marian, get out of the way! ' Guy yelled, thrashing the sword in her direction, whilst turning his head to keep Ava in line.

Marian neatly dodged the sword,' You'll have to kill me first. '

' No,' Gisbourne insisted, focusing all of his attention on Marian, and dropping his other arm by his side, allowing Ava the chance to move.

Ava took the opportunity to move, and ran towards the King - although she still had no weapon to disarm Gisbourne and come to Marian's aid. She knelt by the King's side and immediately leant over him to try and tend to the arrow wound in his arm - luckily it didn't seem too bad, but what she really needed was help.

She tried to stand up and run for help, but Gisbourne roared at her,' Stay where you are! You do not run for help! '

He threatened to throw the sword at her, so she had no choice but to stay with the King, who grasped her wrist and pulled her down, refusing to be left alone, lying there.

Gisbourne continued,' I'm going to do this thing, have power beyond measure, and we will be together. '

Marian laughed,' I would rather die than be with you, Guy of Gisbourne. '

Ava's breath caught in her throat,' Marian! Don't! ' she warned, worrying that it would rile Gisbourne up.

Marian ignored her,' I'm going to marry Robin Hood. I love Robin Hood. '

Gisbourne stared at her, rather shell shocked.

Marian repeated it,' I love Robin Hood. '

Ava saw it coming before Marian did - Gisbourne took a step forward, and Ava - eyes wide in alarm - stood up quickly and darted forward, planning on dragging Marian out of the way.

' Marian! ' she yelled,' move! '

But her yell was drowned out by the sound of Gisbourne's sword plunging straight into Marian's abdomen, and Marian groaning.

Gisbourne drove it depeper in to Marian, as Ava stood, almost glued to the ground in horror. It was Ava's scream which was the only sound heard, as Gisbourne let Marian's deeply injured body fall to the ground with a thump.

Whilst this was going on, Much and Robin were together searching for the Sheriff, as was Allan and John, and Will and Djaq.

The blood curdling feminine shriek caused Much to look to Robin in alarm.

' Ava! ' he exclaimed,' oh no, oh no, oh no. If something's happened to her ... '

Both he and Robin took off at top speed, fearing that Ava had been severly injured.

What they instead found, as they ran into the courtyard - the other four members of the gang, plus Carter - meeting up with them there, was Marian laying on the ground with a huge sword stuck in her body, with Ava knelt besides her breathing deeply, whilst Gisbourne standing nearby looking on in distress - almost disbelief.

Robin ran right for Marian calling her name loudly, whilst Will and Djaq ran to check on the King, the others hovering around between, ready to help in any which way that they could.

Another voice broke in to the situation, ' Gisbourne! ' the Sheriff called, rousing Gisbourne out of his reverie and causing the man to run for the horse which was awaiting him.

As the Sheriff rode away, they heard his calls of, ' It's not over yet! I will have England! '

' The King? There's the King? ' Marian demanded in distress, as Djaq came to be by her side, along with Robin and Ava, the others standing up by her.

' It's alright. He's alright. You saved him,' promised Robin taking Marian's face in his hands.

' How's it looking down there? ' Marian asked, trying to make light of the situation, ' I fear I may be beyond even Djaq's amazing talent.'

' Don't talk like that, we'll think of something,' Robin hoped.

' Can we ... at least, get this out of me?' Marian asked, gasping for breath, and motioning to the sword.

Robin exchanged a look with Djaq, who orbs were welling up, and Djaq shook her head.

Robin broke into tears, as did Marian.

' Marian, Marian, we can't take it out just yet,' Robin told her.

' Why? ' asked Marian, trying to look at it,' why? '

Marian grasped Robin's shirt tightly with one hand, and her other hand gripped Ava's tightly, sqeezing harder in her distress, but Ava didn't mind ... she held on just as tight.

Djaq gave Marian a simple, sympathetic look.

Marian caught on,' Will I die when it comes out? '

The silence confirmed it.

Marian's head lolled back, and Ava was the first person she turned to look at, ' Then this is goodbye, my friend,' she said.

Ava's tears fell thick and fast, and she struggled to keep control of herself,' Oh, Marian,' she sobbed furiously,' it's so unfair. '

' I know, I know. But listen to me - I love you,' she said, sobbing harder, but determined to get through with it, ' you are such a good friend and I wish you all the luck in the world. '

' Thank you,' Ava sniffed.

Marian continued, ' This is what you're going to do, you hear me? You're going to go back to Sherwood and fight for justice, because I need to know that there's someone to keep these boys in line. And when you get married, I'll be watching over you, and whenever you're in need of anything, I'll be there watching over you. Good luck. '

Ava nodded with difficulty, ' I love you,' she sobbed,' you - asides from Djaq - are the only sane thing around sometimes. I need you - you can't leave me. You're my friend. '

' Much will look after you,' Marian said, and indeed Much came over and wrapped both of his arms around his fiance, pulling her to her feet and holding her close as they watched Robin and Marian.

' We haven't got much time, my darling,' Marian told Robin,' I hope we have forever in heaven because we didn't have enough time on earth. Not nearly enough time.'

' We were busy,' Robin nodded.

' We were fighting,' Marian corrected,' and I'm proud. You keep fighting for me, Robin.'

' I can't,' Robin said through his tears.

' I'd love to argue with you, but we haven't got the time. You promise me, you'll keep fighting.'

Robin nodded,' I will,' he said, trying to smile a little.

Ava shifted a bit, curling one fist in to her beloved's shirt, trying to seek comfort. Her other hand laid on his cheek, her thumb stoking his cheek lightly. Much's arms locked around her waist, pulling her as close as he possibly could.

' The last time we were dying, we were getting married,' Marian reminded him, ' can we carry on, please? '

' Robin,' the King said - having been healed by Djaq - as he handed Robin a ring to give to his new bride.

Robin wiped his tears with his hand before vowing,' I Robin, take you, Marian, to be my lawful wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death do us part.'

Ava sniffed, and Much kissed her cheek quickly, his own tears falling down his face.

Marian took over,' I Marian, take you, Robin, beautiful, beautiful Lord of Locksley, to be by lawful wedded husband. I promise to love and to cherish you, on earth and especially in heaven, for now and forever, till death do us part. '

Robin slid the ring on to her finger, kissed that finger, and then kissed her lips lightly.

' I love you,' Marian told her new husband.

' I love you ... my wife,' Robin returned, running his thumb across her cheek soothingly.

It was in that moment of peace, that Marian laid her hands upon the shaft of the sword, and pulled it away from her, with a great cry of pain.

As Robin shhhed her, her eyelids closed slowly, and she slipped away from life, her new husband whispering her name a few times before accepting that she was gone, and crying over her body.

The King bowed his head in respect, as did John and Carter, whilst Will enulfed Djq in embrace, and both Allan and Much held Ava.

It was not long after, when Robin carried Marian's body across the desert, the rest of them following on as a sort of procession.

She was buried in an area where soldiers - fighter like herself - were also laid to rest, and an official shield lay over the place where her body lay.

They stood in a line in front of her grave, all heads bowed in the deepest respect, and all thoughts on the young woman whom England had lost.

A wife, a friend, a very good friend, a fighter, a colleuege, a life.

After the funeral, the King invited them to stay at the camp for a while.

When they got there, they spent that first evening dining in the King's tent, along with the King himself, and Carter.

Halfway through, Much said something which caught everyone's attention.

' Ava, my love, marry me. '

Ava spluttered on her drink, causing her Uncle Will to slap her on her back, before she could say,' Much,what do you mean? We're already engaged.'

' That's not good enough,' Much declared boldly, ' I want to marry you and I want to do it sooner rather than later. Life's too short, and I want to know that whatever happens, you're my wife - marry me. '

This was said as a demand rather than a question, and she grinned, ' What - here? '

King Richard grinned,' Well, it's settled then. Where will you have the ceremony? '

Ava looked at Much , and both looked rather clueless.

' Bassam has several nice rooms that you could chose from,' Djaq suggested, ' I am sure he wouldn't mind - in fact, he would rather enjoy - hosting the ceremony. '

The King smiled, ' Perhaps the bride would like to go and stay with Bassam, where you could prepare for the ceremony - I don't know exactly what the arrangements will entail, but surely you can do it better from such a place. Maybe take someone with you? '

Ava beamed - although her first choice would have been Marian, someone else was just as good, ' Djaq? Will you be Maid of Honour? '

Djaq's hands flew to her mouth and she nodded happily, looking estatic.

The King nodded,' Then the bridal party will leave for Bassam's house, and the rest of us will come tommorrow. '

Carter raised his eyebrows, ' Excuse me - I thought I was bridesmaid? '

Ava frowned,' You weren't serious? ' she asked, raising her eyebrows.

Carter shrugged,' Well .... maybe not, just thought you might want an escort to the town - it's not safe for two women to ride around alone. '

Ava smiled, ' Actually, I was hoping Dad, you'd come with me? After all, who else is going to give me away? '

The King laughed,' Then it's settled, you will be married tommorrow at midday. '

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A/N: I know Carter's supposed to die, but I couldn't kill both he and Marian.

Also, Much and Ava's wedding wasn't really planned, but oh well, I'm sure it was time we saw it.