"Where's Marian?"

The instant Robin's eyes snapped open, he sat up, grabbed Little John by the arm, and asked the question. The throbbing pain in his head was nothing compared to the fear and ache in his heart.

Marian was in danger...hauled away by two huge ruffians, and no one seemed to care!

Little John, kneeling on the ground beside Robin, dismissed his friend's question with a shake of his shaggy mane, telling him, "Robin, you're no in Acre. You were dreaming again."

"No, I wasn't! I saw her, John! I saw her being dragged away!"

Leaping to his feet, Robin's desperate eyes scoured the fairgrounds. He could see nothing, for the many trampling feet of the fairgoers hid any telltale footprints he might track.

"Marian!" he hopelessly called, not knowing how long he'd been unconscious.

Little John, sure his blow to Robin's head was playing havoc with the man's reason, stood over him, saying kindly, "Robin, sorry. Marian's no hurt."

Robin was instantly sorry himself when he tore a hand through his hair, in a wild gesture of desperation. The pounding behind his temples was like a thousand thundering hoofbeats of Saladin's army. But he didn't care. All that mattered was that Marian was in danger.

"Where is she?" he asked again. "Where's my wife?"

Little John realized he didn't know. Could Robin be speaking truth? He watched as his friend quickly gathered up the weapons he'd laid aside for their quarterstaff battle, his jaw set, his mouth grim and determined, his eyes wild and desperate.

"You've got to help me, John," Robin was saying.

"How?"

"Help me find her...rescue her! Ellen's fine with my staff, but Marian's..."

Robin couldn't speak the words. Little John was confused, not understanding Robin had meant his staff of servants, not the weapon he'd just used in their contest. Staff meant one and only one thing to the giant.

Little John watched in alarm when Robin jumped off the platform and rushed to the horse vendors, throwing a purse full of money at one, then leading a dappled grey stallion toward him.

"I know you're no horseman, but you've got to ride. Head west, I'll go east. We've got to find her, John!"

"Robin, I'm no riding that horse."

"Search the castle then. No, I will! They might have locked her up!"

Robin couldn't think straight. His emotions were just too strong, combined with his blow to the head. "Help me, John!" he cried out.

A young boy's voice calling his name made him stop and look. Daniel, his stableboy, was running toward him, as fast as his legs could carry him. "Master Robin!" the boy cried out. "Your lady wife's in danger!"

Robin didn't wait for the boy to reach him. At the first mention of Marian's plight, he ran toward the boy, closing the gap between them in no time at all.

"Tell me what you know," he ordered.

Little John, realizing the truth at last, lumbered quickly to join them.

It took a moment before Daniel could catch his breath to explain. "I'm your eyes and ears," he said to Robin. "So, I followed those men who'd grabbed Her Ladyship. They took her into Sherwood, and I lost them, but I can show you how far I got."

"Good boy," Robin breathed, praying a silent prayer of thanksgiving. "I can track them in the forest. Show me, now!"

Without having to be asked, Little John followed, nearly as worried as Robin now.

"I'm coming, my love," Robin breathed, sending all his love toward Marian. "I'm coming."