This is another chapter my friend wrote; I only did the translation. Enjoy! There is something at the end of the chapter that might offend some people. It's only this one hint and there won't be anything more of that sort. But don't you agree that the Sheriff is scum?

Illusions 7

Marian brushed a stand of hair out of her face, covering her locks again with her kerchief. She sighed. Nothing had remained of the proud noblewoman she had been. How silly and childish she had been before! Only now she had realised what the word working meant, getting up before dawn and falling on her pallet, exhausted, sometimes near midnight. Her comfortable life was over as well as the Night watchman's adventures. They had been merely adventures as she knew now. She had talked herself into believing that she could really help the people bringing them some food and sometimes clothing. But it had been a drop in the bucket. Even Robin's activities hadn't affected anyone or anything than the area around Nottingham. Probably nobody at Prince John's court had even heard of a man called Robin Hood. Vaysey would not have admitted that he was not able to catch an outlaw. Robin had not changed anything and now - she swallowed - he was dead.

She tried to push these thoughts away and watched her mirror image in the pond. She had become too slender, but also more mature. She wouldn't complain; she had a roof over her head, something to eat and hat survived. It had been nearly three months, since Guy had left her in the hut, three months she had not heard anything of Guy and Nottingham. She wondered what he'd do. He was on the run as she was. Or had he returned to Vaysey? No, he was ambitious but not spineless. Why hadn't she been able to turn to him? She had seen him change and had known he loved her. He would have protected her. He was magnificent, so tall and dark and…

"Cara?" Marian started. Her „new self" had been called. She had to go back. Slowly she got up and straightened her clothes, took the freshly washed bundle of garments and walked down the path, where the other maid servant was waiting for her.

Robin was standing at the abyss looking down. How should he go on? Marian had run away with Gisborne at the first opportunity. She hadn't even tried to get help to free him and the gang when they had been surrounded by the mercenaries in the barn. Marry him, my ae. Back then in the tree when she had suggested that she should be taken hostage and go back to the castle to spy for Robin, she had only wanted to be near Gisborne. How could he have been so blind? She had never cared for him. He had only been a toy for her, a means to rebel and to satisfy her adventurous streak. He had not much going for it, an outlaw, living in the woods, especially now that the King was held ransom. At first he had thought it merely gossip, but then more and more sources had confirmed that King Richard had been captured in Vienna.

The gang had to choose now between helping the populace and helping Richard. They had decided to make their contribution for the King's release. Only he would be able to root out the evildoers who would ruin England and to give back freedom to the people. Robin didn't know, however, that the populace couldn't care less who ruled England. They had to survive. One king after another, some merely month, some of them years, their fame had been but a transient shadow. They would love whoever was able to grant food on the table. Robin and his friends had given them coin and food for a while and now they gave this coin for the King's ransom, a king who was far away anyway. Their only glimmer of hope had faded away.

Robin looked down again; one step and everything was over. He abandoned the thought as quickly as it had come: Will had signaled that the Sheriff's weekly transport was on his way. Since Alan had become the Sheriff's right hand man, it was more difficult to ambush them; Alan knew what the gang were thinking and what they would do. He had turned his back on them for good and the attack on the camp had probably only been the beginning. Fortunately, Robin had expected something like this and had told his friends to move the camp.

A whistle – the wagon had arrived; Robin and his friends were ready. Hopefully it wasn't a trap.

Alan leaned back and straightened. This was how he had imagined his life: comfortable chambers in the castle, excellent food, a maid servant, a groom and lots of money. The only thing he had to do for this was betraying Robin. Since King Richard wouldn't come back anyway, this had been the obvious decision. Guy had disappeared and Alan had risen in the Sheriff's boon. He commanded the soldiers and as Vaysey's right hand man he had some more amenities – and tasks, he mused, disgusted.

„ALLLAAAAAN!" Sometimes the Sheriffs voice nearly made him vomit. „Where is my ALAN?" Butt his was the price he was paying fort he life he was leading. „Here, I'm almost there." Alan got up. He would try not to dwell on it and ignore his inner voice. "Well, what are we going to do today?" Vaysey purred. Alan had opened the door, peeking into the room. The Sheriff stood in front of his desk, hiding something behind his back. "I've always wanted a dog, but my mother thought they had too many fleas…you don't have fleas, have you….ALAN?" Alan closed his eyes and groaned inwardly, then looked at the Sheriff again, giving him a forced smile. He closed the door. "No, of course not."

„Then I want you to wear this….and only this…."

A leash – Alan swallowed.