Hey!!! couple of things about this chapter firstly you must read to the end!!! that is very important...trust me...secondly Liisa (Liisakee to youtube) has just done a beautiful vid which i requested watch it!!! i wrote this chap before watching the vid so Liisa you might not be totally satisfied with this chap (sorry) but next chap...which ill put up later today or tommorrow you are getting your request you have put me in a happy little bubble thank you!!! anyway please read review and enjoy!!!!

Chapter Twenty Five: Life and Death

Robin blinked. He thought that he must be dreaming. He was sure that he would wake up any minute and there would be no blood from his body. Marian would not be looking up at him with her sad beautiful eyes, because she was far away in France. This was not real.

But it was.

Especially the part where Marian said that he, and not Guy, was the father of her child.

That was real. That actually happened.

But that's not possible because Marian and I have never slept together.

Robin would have remembered something like that happening. There would be no way he could forget something as wonderful as that. He spent countless nights dreaming about such a reality, but always found that he was merely living in momentary, artificial, fantasy.

Robin looked up at Marian. There must be a reason for the lie…why would she claim that he was the father? Then Robin understood. She lied to save Guy. If she could prove that Guy was not Clara's father, then he would not sacrifice himself. He would be save. And, Robin closed his eyes, she wanted him to be save because she loved him.

If that was what Marian wanted, Robin was going to play along, no matter what the outcome.

"Hood is not the father," said Guy. "I am."

"No," Marian said. "I'm sorry Guy."

Guy shook his head. He was in utter shock.

"She's telling the truth Gisborne!" Robin yelled.

Vasey still held the sword over Robin's chest. "Really?"

Robin gave Marian a quick look and then nodded.

"She was living in the castle," insisted Guy, "under house arrest. How could she have had sex with you? How could you be Clara's father?"

Robin gave an intentional haughty smile. "Remember that period of time when she left the castle?"

Guy closed his eyes and moaned. Then he opened his eyes and gazed sadly at Marian. "I thought that…even if you did not…surely she is mine."

Marian was silent.

"Kill her Guy!" said Vasey. "Come on, we didn't come all the way from England just to visit. Kill the slut!"

Guy wanted to. At that moment, when nothing seemed to matter to him anymore, he wanted to just drive a blade right into her ungrateful body and end this suffering. But he did not. He still loved Marian. And even though Clara was not his, he still loved her. She had his eyes. She had his eyes, not Robin's. How could she not belong to him? How could those soulful innocent eyes not love him?

If Guy murdered Marian then Clara would grow up without a mother. Clara would be as lost as Guy had been as a child. Guy would not let that happen to Clara. If Hood had the baby somewhere, then Marian could raise her out of harm's way.

So Guy closed his eyes tightly and shook his head.

"No."

"No?" Vasey was appalled.

"No?" Edward asked.

"You are not good enough for death," Guy said quietly turning to Marian. "Leave! Leave my house! I never want to see you again!"

"But Guy!" Marian pleaded.

"Go!" Guy pointed to the door. "Get out of my sight!"

Guy grabbed Marian's arm and began leading her towards the door.

When they walked by Robin, Guy momentarily paused to look down at the outlaw who had stolen so much from him. He kicked Robin's stomach and Robin moaned.

"Guy," Marian pleaded. "Stop!"

Guy opened the door. "You are nothing but used baggage."

He then threw Marian out the door and slammed it behind him.

Outside Marian was not surprised to see the gang at the bottom of the hill looking up at her curiously. She started walking down the hill. But she stopped and looked back at the manor. Marian hoped that Guy would now feel released from her hold so that he would live. And Robin?

What about Robin?

Marian hugged herself. He had to live. She did not care if he loved her or not, but he had to live. She was sure that if he died in there, she would never breathe again.

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Guy leaned against the door and tried to breathe, though he was not sure he would ever breathe again.

Then Guy walked over to the sheriff who still had a sword pointed at Robin's heart.

"I'll do it," he said.

"What?" asked the sheriff.

"Come again?" asked Edward.

Robin moaned and closed his eyes.

"Listen," said Guy, "my world is ending right now, I don't have any reason to live. I'll kill him, and then you can still kill me."

Robin opened one eyes nervously. This was not supposed to happen. Guy was not supposed to still be willing to die. Guy had to live. Marian would never be happy again if Guy did not survive this. But then Robin realized that he would be dead in a couple of minutes, free of worldly pain and sorrow forever.

But, if there was life after death, then Robin would live in eternal hell with a guilty conscious.

"Gisborne," Robin began.

"Shut up Hood!"

Robin shrugged. "Fine by me. It doesn't matter anyway."

"Why not?"

Robin shook his head. "Because she loves you!"

"What?" asked Edward.

"What?" asked Vasey.

Guy looked down at his enemy with a confused look on his face. Gabriella, Vasey, and his dreams had all told him that Marian did not love him. Why was the one person who had her love, claiming that she loved him?

"Vasey," said Guy ignoring Robin's comment, "give me your sword."

Vasey shrugged and handed his sword to Guy. Guy looked down at Robin again and smiled. He knew what he was doing. He knew exactly what he was doing. Now the sheriff had given him the sword. This was going perfectly.

Guy then, to everyone's surprise, stood in front of Robin and held his sword at the sheriff and Edward.

"Guy?" asked the sheriff. "Shouldn't your sword be pointed the other way?"

Guy shook his head. "No. You are not going to kill him, and I am not going to kill him."

"Do I want to know why?" asked Vasey.

"Not really," said Guy. "You wouldn't appreciate the sentimentality."

"I'll just kill you then," said Vasey.

"No," Edward charged through Vasey and drew his sword at Guy. Guy and Edward clashed swords with each other. Then Guy thrust his sword through Edward's stomach.

Edward moaned and clutched his stomach. He fell to the floor.

"Please," murmured Edward. "Have mercy."

"You showed none to Clara, or to Marian, or to Hood, or to me. Why should I do any less for you?" asked Guy.

Edward closed his eyes and suddenly he saw his father.

I tried.

His father smiled at him and embraced him. I know. I am so sorry.

You left us. You were going to leave us to rot!

Can you forgive me?

Yes. Edward hugged his father.

Together their spirits floated until Edward turned to his father.

Did Gisborne really try to stop you from leaving?

He thought what I was doing was wrong. He said that a man should not abandon his family.

Edward closed his eyes. I did not kill him.

I am proud of you my son. You can come home now…

Edward's lifeless body remained on the floor. His eyes were closed and a smile was on his face. He seemed at peace.

Then Guy turned on the sheriff. "You have done such evil."

"You have too," said the sheriff. "It is a wonder that I did not kill you."

"You would have failed," said Guy. He swung his sword at the sheriff. But the sheriff was good with a sword and held him off. Robin saw the two men fighting bitterly. He did not see an end in sight. At least, not a good end in sight. Guy was getting tired, it was obvious.

Why was Guy saving him?

Robin could not figure that part out as hard as he tried.

Robin knew he could not let Guy die. He crawled over to Edward's body and took his sword. Then he crawled back to his previous position on the floor. While was doing this the sheriff had pinned Guy to the wall. He was about to slit Guy's throat when suddenly he felt a sharp pain in his back.

The hero of Sherwood had used all of his strength to thrust his sword through Vasey's back. Guy realized this and then he thrust his sword through the sheriff's stomach.

Robin fell backwards on the floor, devoid of any further energy. Guy watched fixatedly as the sheriff fell.

Guy bent over the sheriff who was slowly leaving this world forever.

"Why?" asked Vasey. "I only loved you."

Guy shook his head. "You did not."

"You were like a son to me," whispered the sheriff desperately groping for air.

"I am not your son," said Guy angrily, "and you are not my father."

Vasey laughed. "No Gisborne. I am your father."

"What?" Guy asked exasperatedly.

Vasey shook his head. "Just kidding."

Then suddenly the sheriff stopped speaking. He closed his eyes and he saw his sister Davina. She was wearing white and had her arms crossed.

Hail the conquering hero.

Vasey shook his head. Where am I?

Think of it as a middle room. You are not in Heaven, nor Hell.

What?! The sheriff shook his head. He did not know much about death, but he knew where he would be at the end of all things. I belong in hell!

You did not kill them. Davina smiled at him. You did not murder innocence.

But I have in the past.

You were not judged on the past brother, but on the present. I was trying to warn you. I was trying to help you not make the wrong choice.

So death? Vasey asked her, death was the only way?

I don't make the rules. Come, walk with me.

I missed you.

I missed you too.

And with that, Vasey, the sheriff of Nottingham was no more. His spirit escaped from his body and all that remained was a lifeless bloody corpse.

Guy stood up and looked down at the two dead.

Suddenly he heard gasped breathing. He turned to see Robin on the floor with his eyes closed.

Guy knelt by Robin's side. "Open your eyes!"

Robin still gripped the bloody sword in his hands. "How did it go?"

Guy smiled. "You have not lost your touch with a sword my friend."

Robin grinned. "So we are friends now, the two of us?"

"I did save your life," said Guy. "We're more than enemies."

"And I saved yours."

Guy raised his eyebrow. "What?"

"Guy," said Robin, "there's something you need to know. Marian saved your life."

"She destroyed my life." Guy shook his head.

Robin rolled his eyes. He held back a cry of pain. "Guy, I might die now. And I cannot die without telling you this."

"Telling me what?"

Robin closed his eyes. He could leave Guy in this world without telling him the truth. That would serve him right for taking Marian away.

But it was wrong.

Let the last thing I do be the right thing.

"Hood?" asked Guy. "Are you dead?"

"Not yet," said Robin opening his eyes and smiling. "Still listening?"

Guy nodded.

"The baby, Clara, is not mine."

"What?"

"Guy, I came to France with a purpose: to get Marian back. I crossed a sea with thoughts of her floating in my mind. I have not slept for thinking of her, for dreaming of her. And while I thought of her, I thought of you. I wanted to kill you. Not simply because you married her, though that increased the pain. But also because you got to have a part of her that I never experienced."

Guy's heart leapt. "You have never lain with Marian."

"No."

"What about when she was in the forest?"

Robin smiled. "She got her own bed."

Guy chuckled. "So Clara is my daughter?"

Robin nodded. "She has your eyes Gisborne, how could you have doubted otherwise? Now I can die while I know that the two of you will be happy together."

Guy shrugged. Then he realized that there was something Robin needed to hear. Robin needed to hear the truth about Marian's feelings. If Robin could hear the truth of Marian's love, before he died, maybe he could fight to survive.

"There is something I need to tell you too," said Guy.

"I'm not going anywhere."

"You are wrong about Marian."

"What are you talking about?"

Guy closed his eyes. "She doesn't love me alright? She loves you Robin! She has only ever loved you! She called out your name while we were…in the middle of…never mind. She thinks about you constantly. Robin, you need to live for her. Robin!?"

Guy opened his eyes. He saw Robin's eyes were closed. He shook the outlaws body. He felt for a pulse. It was there, but very weak. Robin was dying. Guy did not know what to do. He could leave him there, and let him die. That certainly seemed like a possibility.

Daddy? Clara asked. Have you ever killed a man?

Guy could not answer.

Are you going to kill this man daddy? Just let him die without help?

No.

No.

He would not.

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"Marian?" Much was the first to see Marian.

"Marian!" Everyone called.

Marian ran down the hill to her old friends. She paused when she saw the new members of the gang. She recognized Eve and smiled at Much. Then she looked at Stephan.

He looked familiar.

He looked, very much, like the man she loved.

But there was no time to be debating the identity of a familiar face.

There was a little girl she needed to hold.

Marian spotted Clara resting happily in Eve's arms. "Do you mind if I take her?"

Eve shook her head.

Marian went to Eve and took Clara from her arms. She smiled down at her bright angel. If only there was a time to get lost in the simplicity of her daughter's smile. Perhaps one day, when things were right again, she would hold her like this. But now, now there were men to save. Marian, with Clara in her arms, turned to face the gang.

"What's going on?"

"Marian what happened?!"

"Where is Robin?!"

The gang was desperate for news, for instructions, for anything. Marian had to be in command, though she dreaded the responsibility. She cleared her throat and called everyone to attention.

"Robin needs our help! We need to go! Now!"

Marian led the charge to the manor. It was a slow climb for all of the weary travelers. When they reached the top of the hill, Marian opened the door with her free hand.

She saw Guy kneeling beside Robin's body.

She saw Robin's eyes closed. She saw the blood on the floor. With the baby in her arms she, rushed to Robin's side.

The gang hung back by the door looking with concern at Robin from afar. Eve gasped quietly and hugged Much who was quietly weeping. John let a tear fall from his right cheek and did not brush it away. Will and Djaq held each other silently. Allan shook his head and closed his eyes.

But Stephan stood apart from the rest of them.

Marian bent down next to Guy. She was shaking violently and biting her lower lip.

Guy did not say anything to Marian. He looked at her worried frame. Guy could see fear and sorrow in her eyes and face.

Then he saw Clara.

Despite the uncertainty of the fallen hero Guy found himself feeling quite warm and content inside. His little Clara, his shining star, was safe. Everything was right with the world for this one moment of life.

Guy took Clara from Marian's shaking hands.

The child snuggled in Guy's open arms. She alone, did not understand the sorrow that seemed to consume the entire house.

And Stephan stood apart from the rest of the grievers.

His brother was dead…he was sure of it. And yet, at the same time, he did not want to admit it. Finally, after all these years of separation, of wondering what might happen, he had connected with his little brother again.

This could not be how things would end. This could not be how Robin would end.

Stephan was not one for tears. He was not too proud of them, like Little John. But he did not often cry. But now Stephan's vision began to blur. He realized that a bright tear was gliding gracefully down his cheek. And then another followed in suit, and then another, and still another, until a river seemed to fall from his weary eyes.

You cannot be dead. You cannot die! I won't you! I'm your older brother. I should die before you! Please God, if you are listening, please heal my brother. Please save him. He has so much life left to live.

As Stephan prayed silently to a seemingly silent Heaven, Marian threw herself on Robin's body. She was crying bitterly. Tears were spilling from her eyes onto Robin's body. Blood from his wound was on her dress but she did not notice. This was the first time in months that she held him in her arms.

It should not be like this.

"Robin!" she screamed bitterly. "Robin! Please!"

She lay on top of Robin's body. "I love you," she whispered in his ear. "Please, come back. I cannot do this alone."

As the gang sobbed for the lost leader, Robin opened his eyes to a world he did not understand. He saw a tunnel before his eyes. It was a long and dark tunnel, but on the other side, there was a little glow of light.

Robin started to walk down the tunnel when a figure appeared in front of the entrance.

It was a very familiar figure looking at Robin and smiling at him.

Hello Lavender boy.

Roy!? Robin asked cautiously, Royston White?

The one and only.

Are you alive?

Roy shook his head.

Then I must be dead.

Roy shook his head again. Not quite. Not in so many words actually.

What do you mean?

If you go through the tunnel, you'll die, but if you go back the other way, you'll live.

Seriously?

Roy shrugged. I don't make the rules Robin.

Dying would be easy, mused Robin thinking of the pain life brought him.

Roy nodded. But what about those you leave behind? Your death would be hard for them wouldn't it?

They can fight without me. Robin thought about the pain of his lost love.

Roy shook his head. This is not the Robin Hood I fought for.

He lost someone important to him. He is gone now.

Roy shook his head again and rolled his eyes. Don't think so.

Robin was silent.

They love you Robin, your gang, the whole of England loves you, no one will recover.

What must I do?

Roy smiled. There's the Lavender boy I knew and loved.

What must I do?

Start walking back the other way. You will begin to feel a sharp pain in your chest, fight it. You must fight it and breathe through the pain. They will know what to do from there.

Robin turned around and started walking back when he turned and stared at Roy. He held out his hand. Will you come with me?

Roy looked sadly at Robin and shook his head. I cannot. This is something you, and you alone, must do.

Robin nodded. We miss you Roy.

Go.

Robin turned around again and began to walk back. Suddenly there was a sharp fiery pain in his stomach that made him want to turn around and race down the tunnel. But he fought against the throbbing ache and walked on. Suddenly, from the depths of his being, he let out a breath.

Marian, lying on top of Robin, suddenly felt a small pulse.

"Oh my God! He's alive!"

See??? he's alive!!! and i brought back roy (which surpised me too) look for my next chap later today---Liisa i hope you recognize the title of chap 26!!!---for now i love you all as usual