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

Chapter 44

Once the gang got back to the camp, they spent at least two weeks hanging around in the camp and doing nothing.

Then one morning, Ava sat around the camp fire with Much, Will and John. Allan had gone out hunting, and Djaq was searching in the forest for a certain herb that she needed.

Robin, meanwhile, was still heavily grieving for his lost love, and spent most hours of the day alone in the forest, or in isolated corners of the campsite.

Ava sighed as she looked around at the people she sat with.

' This is ridiculous,' she said, capturing everyone's attention,' we're supposed to help people, not sit around wallowing is self-pity. '

' What do you suggest we do, then? ' asked Much.

John banged his staff on the ground,' She is right. If Robin can't bring himself to do anything, then we will. We have to be out there ambushing people, and helping the poor. '

Ava stood up,' Yes, but first, we could do to find out exactly what people in the villages know about Marian. And what Gisbourne and the Sheriff have been doing since they got back. I'm going to go into Locksley. '

' Is that safe? ' Much asked.

Will spoke up,' If we're careful. And if we remain inconspicous. You know there's certain people we can talk to whom we can rely upon. '

Ava smiled, grabbing a cloak and beginning to draw it around her shoulders,' Great. I'll see you lot in a bit then. '

' You're not going on your own,' insisted Much.

Ava leant up and kissed his cheek,' I'll be fine. '

*****

Moving quickly, Ava swept through Locksley, looking this way and that for any sins of danger. She made her way to the manor house, and once there, tapped lightly on the back door - the servants entrance.

Whilst waiting for someone to answer, she hid in the shadows, and the door was opened by Thorton - relieved, she moved forward.

' Ah, Ava,' he said, looking around quickly,' come in inside, before someone sees you. '

Gratefully, the 19 year old stepped inside and closed the door behind her. Once there, Thorton turned to face her.

A smile crossed his features,' I must admit, it's a relief to see you here. We - that is, all of the local people - were worried that you'd all left for good .. that something would happen to you. '

' No, we're all back safely,' It was only after she said it, that Ava realised the mistake in her words, and she swallowed hard before continuing,' listen, since we've been gone a while, we're missing a few details. For instance, how much does everyone know about where we've been? '

The door opened, and Ava's eyes widened, only to relax when she saw that it was merely Charlotte - a kitchen maid, who often provided the gang with food. Charlotte was around 35.

' Miss A Dale,' Charlotte smiled,' it's good to see you. '

Ava nodded,' And you .. though actually, it's Mrs Miller now. '

Thornton raised his eyebrows,' You and Much finally ...? '

Ava smiled bashfully, a pink blush crossing her cheeks,' But ... but anyway - my question.'

' Of course,' Thornton agreed,' Well. First the Sheriff and Gisbourne left the castle with Lady Marian .. caused quite a stir, once the castle staff leaked out word .. and then no one saw any of you lot for a while. It became quite clear that you'd gone after them. '

' Does anyone know where we've been? ' Ava asked, holding her breath.

It was Charlotte who replied,' There have been rumors. People said you'd all gone to the Holy Land, but no one knew why. Then Gisbourne and the Sheriff returned without Lady Marian. The Sheriff made an announcement in Nottingham, that whilst they'd been away on business, Marian had taken ill and .. and died. '

Ava bowed her head,' I am afraid that Marian has indeed passed on, although that version of events is quite ... tampered with.' In answer to the raised eyebrows, she shook her head,' I can say no more. I must ask - does anyone know what the Sheriff and Gisbourne have been doing since their return? '

Charlotte sighed,' Sir Guy's been in an awful temper .. even more so than usual, I mean. I suppose it's because of Lady Marian. He's been truly dreadful .. sullen, moody, angry, snappy. Woe betide anyone who gets in his way.'

' And their plans?'

' Alas, I know not,' Thornton admitted,' we do not hear many of the plans. But they've been pretty quiet on the whole. No big plots. '

Ava sighed,' I guess that I should be going.'

Before she could leave, Thorton took hold of her arm,' How is Master Robin? '

' He is .. he is not well, as can be expected. He and Marian married upon her deathbed. '

' Give him my condolances, won't you? ' Thornton said, as Charlotte pressed a few baskets of food which she had hastily thrown together, into Ava's hands.

' Good day,' Charlotte called, as Ava walked away,' and give my regards to your father. '

Ava smiled to herself - going to meet Charlotte at the edge of the village was a regular occurance, to collect nessecities that couldn't be caught in the forest. Charlotte did seem to have a soft spot when it was Allan's turn to collect the goods.

*****

Once back at camp, Ava handed over the food to her husband, to be put in the stores, and then briefly filled the gang in on what Thorton and Charlotte had told her.

She then went to approach Robin

He was sat alone, once again - though this time in a more central part of the camp.

' I saw Thornton,' she told him, sitting on the ground beside him,' he send his regards. As does Charlotte. The Sheriff has told people that Marian died of an illness. '

Robin's eyes narrowed, anger etched upon his face, as he looked up at the sky.

' I vow, here and now,' he said,' that I will kill the man who took away my love.'

Ava laid a hand upon her friend's arm. Within the first couple of days back in Nottinghamshire, it took all the reasoning and strength John, Allan, Will and Much combined had, to stop Robin going into Locksley and killing Gisbourne outright. Since then, he had become resigned to doing nothing.

' The best thing you can do, is continue with our work, in memory of Marian. '

Robin sighed.

Ava pressed on,' She wanted you to keep England safe, and she'd want you to carry on with what we do. '

She left it at that, and as she walked away, hoped Robin would give some thought to her words.

*****

' Come on! ' John bellowed a few hours later, when there was word of a carriage heading down North Road.

As everyone grabbed their weapons and ran, Robin also joined in - startling his team. Avoiding their suprised looks, he raced off ahead, leading the way once more, as he had always done before.

They jumped out into the North Road, positioning themselves so as to surround the carriage, which came to a halt as Robin stood in the way of it.

An angry female voice from inside called out,' Why have we stopped? I don't think we're there yet. '

The man - some sort of servant - who was driving, called out nervously,' There's a man pointing an arrow in my face, ma'am. '

' I'm sorry,' Robin smirked, regaining some of his boyish charm,' but this is an ambush. '

' No,' said the woman,' this is ridiculous. '

The door to the carriage flung open, and an irritated looking woman, aged around 26 or 27 came into view.

Robin dropped his bow,' Juliet? ' he gasped.

The woman's facial features lightened at once, and she hurtled into his arms,' Robin? Robin! I'm so very glad to see you. '

The woman then broke away from him and went to hug Much.

' Oh Much! I remember you too! '

' Juliet, what are you doing here? ' Robin demanded, as the pair broke apart.

The woman sighed,' I have come to see my sister. I have reason to seek out her help, and recently she has stopped writing me so often as she did.'

Robin's face immediately fell, and Much bowed his head. The others looked around in confusion, wondering who this woman was.

' What? What is it? ' Juliet demanded.

Robin cleared his throat,' Let us talk about this back at the camp. Are you here alone? I am sure I thought you had a husband? '

Juliet's frown deepened as she took a rather large basket out of the carriage, before telling the driver he could go to the Trip tavern until she gave him furthur instructions.

' Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends? ' Juliet smiled as they walked, and she held the basket very close to her, being very careful not to move it too suddenly or sharply.

Robin smiled a smile that did not meet his eyes,' Juliet, these are Little John, Will Scarlett, Djaq, Much whom you already know, his wife Ava, and Ava's father Allan. Everyone, this is Marian's older sister, Juliet. '

At these word, Ava sucked in her breath - this was going to be a painful thing to retell to the unsuspecting sister.

As they walked to the camp, Juliet came to walk beside Ava, whilst Much and Robin went on ahead, whispering into each others ears.

Ava smiled at Juliet,' You sure are guarding that basket well. Something valuable. '

Juliet shrugged,' You could say that,' she replied, pulling backthe blanket that covered the contents of the basket, to reveal a baby, no more than 2 or 3 months old.

Ava gasped,' Oh, a baby. She's so beautiful. '

' My little Marie,' Juliet smiled fondly. I promised my sister that I would come and show her her niece when she was born. Have you thought about ever having a family. '

Ava looked quickly towards Much,' I suppose one day, but there simply isn't the chance when we live like this. '

Juliet paused a moment, before saying,' Marian told me that Robin had been made an outlaw. I could hardly believe it. She told me so much in her letters. She spoke often of her love for him. '

' I can honestly say that I never saw two people more in love than they,' Ava said solemly as they entered the camp, and all sat around the camp fire which was still burning from before they left.

Robin looked at Juliet, about to say something, before he caught sight of the baby. His eyes widened, ' You have a babe? Where is your husband? '

Juliet bowed her head,' I am afraid that Phillip went to serve in the crusades shortly after Marie was concieved, and died before she was born. But never mind that now ... what of Marian? '

' First, can I ask why if this is Marian's sister, she didn't live nearby? ' John cut in.

' That's simple enough,' Much shrugged,' Juliet lived in Knighton with Marian and Sir Edward until a year or so before Robin and I went away to the crusades. She went to visit an aunt of their mother's, and whilst there fell for a lad who lived in the neighbourhood. She ended up visiting her mother's aunt very regularly, whilst courting the lad, and within a year married him .. that's right, isn't it, Juliet? '

Juliet nodded,' We were very happy - I wrote to my sister and father regularly. Marian told me everything that went on in her life ... you, Gisbourne, her wedding, the forest and the outlaws, losing the house, losing father ... but she hasn't written for a couple of monts .. she's not replying and I need her now more than ever what with no Phillip, and little Marie. '

' I don't know quite how to tell you this ...' Robin sighed.

Juliet shook her head quickly,' No ... no, she can't be ...'

Robin took hold of Juliet's hand,' Julie .. I'm sorry .. Marian is dead. '

Juliet loud of a quiet sob, and threw her arms around Robin. ' What happened? ' she managed to choke out between heavy sobs.

' Gisbourne stabbed her,' John said fiercly,' he and the Sheriff had gone to Jerusalem to kill the King and taken Marian with them as Hostage. We followed, saved Marian, had to fight off the Sheriff and his cronies, and Marian was stabbed by Gisbourne as she tried to protect the King. '

Juliet shook her head,' No .. this can't be ... '

Robin laid a hand on her shoulder,' I am truly sorry .. she'll be greatly missed. I loved her very much, and she died as my wife. '

Juliet took hold of Robin's hand and held it tightly,' I don't know what I can do now.'

' You'll get through this,' Robin told her, swallowing with some difficulty.

' No,' insisted the woman,' you don't understand. I came here because I really needed Marian. I have no other family left ... my parents both gone, my husband, my mother's old maiden aunt died some years ago .. and now Marian. I was counting on Marian. '

She looked around at them all .. they were all listening intently.

Juliet continued,' I needed her to take in Maria and bring her up for me, and love her as if she were her own. '

They all looked at her inquisitively, awaiting her to go on. Why did Juliet want her sister to bring up her daughter.

Juliet sighed,' I'm dying. '