Chapter Five

Robin looked at Sarah with half a smile. In the two years since he had fought her father for his life, she had not changed.

She has not changed a bit. Robin thought fondly.

But he shook his head. She was not Marian. Marian was in Northern France suffering at Guy's hand while he stared at someone from the past who meant absolutely nothing to him. What the hell was he doing?

"Sarah what are you doing here?" he finally asked searching for the right words. Sarah shrugged her shoulders. "After you left my father practically threw me out of the house. He said I was old enough to live on my own so he wouldn't have to worry about me kissing total strangers on his own land." She paused and stepped closer to Robin, "Even if the strangers are devilishly handsome." She smiled seductively at him.

Meanwhile the gang was looking at each other having no idea what was going on. Matthew stayed in the background to let everything settle out. They were just as baffled as the gang. Besides Much, none of the gang had ever met Sarah nor did they know of her existence. Much was standing with his arms crossed rolling his eyes at his master and his master's distraction. To Much this was an unnecessary and pointless conversation that should not even be taking place. Why does he always, ALWAYS, do this?

But Much was not going to get Robin out of this mess. Much wanted Robin to do it for himself, Robin, in Much's eyes, would prove his love for Marian this way.

As Sarah went forward to kiss Robin again he backed away from her carefully. He did not want to crush her feelings. "Why do you back away from me? I have no father here now, we can do what we like." Sarah smiled.

Allan finally spoke what the entire gang was thinking, "I'm not being funny, but WE'RE here." Much motioned for Allan to leave it. He shook his head at his former enemy, now friend, and closed his eyes. This was Robin's battle.

Robin cleared his throat. "Remember what I told you all those years ago? Remember what I said about no one at home waiting for me?" Sarah nodded and Robin continued. "I was wrong," he chuckled suddenly and smiled at the memory, "I was thankfully very wrong. That is why I need one of your ships, I need to go and save her. I'm sorry."

Sarah's face darkened and she wrinkled her nose. "So you need a ship to go to get the girl?"

"Yes," said Robin.

"You need one of my ships to go and get the girl?" clarified Sarah.

"Yes."

"This isn't going to go well," Matthew said quietly.

Sarah crossed her arms. "No."

Robin's eyes widened. "What?"

"You heard me," said Sarah angrily, "I'm not giving you a ship so that you can go to wherever the hell you're going and go to some other girl. Firstly, I don't think she's worth it, especially after you were so willing to throw it all away because you didn't believe she'd wait for you. And secondly I'm standing right here and she's not, obviously she didn't want you as much as you want her."

The bitter words of seeped into Robin. They filled him with rage and suddenly he unsheathed his sword and pointed it at Sarah. The Will, Much, Allan, Djaq, John, and Matthew looked at Robin with shock. Sarah began backing away with fear in her eyes.

"Enough of this!" pleaded Matthew.

"Master no!" yelled Much.

"Robin!" implored Djaq.

"Take it back," whispered Robin hoarsely to Sarah. "You don't know anything about anything. You have no idea the hell I've been through for the past weeks; you have no idea the hell she put herself through. You know nothing about me except the taste of my lips. You don't know who I am, or who she is, so shut that pretty mouth of yours and give us a damn ship or so help me I will…" He found himself trailing off. What was he really going to do to an innocent, rather stupid, girl?

"You'll what?" asked Sarah.

"Just don't make me finish the sentence. I love her. I love her more than your brain or your heart can comprehend. I love her more than my very existence. I would find another way if you did not help me. I would swim that sea behind you, and any sea in the world if it would bring me closer to her. I'm sorry about your father, I'm sorry that you don't understand, but I love her. I am in love with her. And I'm asking you as an old friend to help me."

Much smiled and opened his eyes. There was a slight breeze in the air and Much inhaled happily. His master was in love. His master was determined to save Marian. Robin had passed the unforeseen test that only God could have placed for him. Robin had passed with flying colors more numerous than that of the rainbow or that of the setting sun.

Sarah was blown away by Robin's confession and while Robin sheathed his sword she nodded. "Okay, yes, I'll give you a ship."

Robin began diving into his pocket for money to pay her but she held up her hands. "No charge for old friends."

Robin Hood, the man of the forests, shook his head and placed a bag of coins in her hands. "Take it for your labors." She took it and thanked him. While she showed him and the gang the ships, Matthew silently slipped away.

He walked back to Nottingham alone with his thoughts. He was helping a band of outlaws hunt down his former master. He was helping a band of outlaws steal his former master's wife. He was helping outlaws! The sheriff, numerous times, had spoken out against these men, against Robin Hood. But Matthew had seen a different side of Robin that day. But Matthew thought of his wife and children living in Nettlestone Village. What would happen if the sheriff found out that Guy was dead because of Matthew's words? What then? Would he be killed? Would his family suffer?

Matthew broke into a run, he ran through the streets of Nottingham and into the castle. He ran past the guards guarding the sheriff and to the sheriff. "My lord sheriff," said Matthew taking a deep breath. "The outlaws are going to Northern France to find Guy of Gisborne."

"Your point?" asked the sheriff in boredom.

"I don't believe they are planning to bring him back to you," said Matthew uneasily.

"What?" the sheriff stood up his eyes wide. "What?"

"From what I have seen from Hood today, I believe he plans to kill him."

The sheriff closed his eyes and sank back in his chair. What was he going to do now? He needed Guy, as much as he hated to admit it. This insolent Nottingham could not be run without Guy. What would happen to him if Guy were dead? Vasey made up his mind; he would have to appoint his master of arms to take over for a while. Vasey, with some of his finest men, would follow Robin and his men and Robin would lead him to Guy. Then Vasey would force Guy to rejoin him and they'd kill off his little leper love and the rest of the outlaws. Vasey smiled at this thought dancing its way around in his mind.

"My lord?" Matthew asked cautiously. "Is everything alright?"

Vasey looked at Matthew. "It will be."

Matthew walked out of the room leaving Vasey alone with his plans.

Back in the great hall Vasey grinned. "It will be."