Pregnancy symptoms that would normally be no more than nuisances grew life threatening, when one was bound and guarded by leering masculine brutes.

Marian shifted uncomfortably on the floor of the cave, the need to relieve herself impossible any longer to ignore.

"Please," she said to her captors, forcing back her shame. "Help me. I need to go."

"Not goin' anywhere, my pretty," one of the men mocked. "Queen's orders."

"You don't understand," she tried to explain. "I'm expecting, and I need to...to relieve myself frequently. Please, untie me. I won't be long."

The man hooted. "We're not lettin' you out, no! You're as slippery as your earl husband! But, go on. What's stoppin' you? You can thank Her Majesty for removin' your fine dress, silk stockings, and filmy underthings. Little pee won't hurt that dress any."

Shifting again, Marian held on, not willing to soil herself like a trapped animal until there was no other way. Still suffering from Isabella's potion, she closed her eyes, and tried to let her mind dwell on pleasant things.

She thought about how it felt, wrapping Ellie's wet, wiggly body in a soft, clean towel, just after Robin pulled her from her bath, their little girl smelling so sweet and looking so trustingly up at her. Dressing her in her long, soft nightdress, combing her fine hair, and tucking her into her nice, warm bed. Smiling at Robin's ludicrous bedtime stories, then kissing their sleepy daughter goodnight before climbing into her own bed, and into her husband's arms. Breathing in his scent, and welcoming his irrestible allure, so strong, so passionate, and yet so tender, too. His kisses, thousands of his kisses, so warm and true and moving. The happy look in his eyes, the adoring look meant only for her.

Would she ever see her family again? Yes, she felt sure she would. Why disappear and die now, after cheating Death twice before? And who could count how many times Robin had cheated it, to live and love beside her?

She felt weak, as if her limbs were made of straw, the effect of Isabella's poison. She knew she stood no chance against the two incredibly strong men watching her, unless she somehow outwitted them.

"Please, Father, help me," Marian prayed, addressing both her heavenly and earthly departed father. Opening her eyes and looking once again at her guards, a surge of hope flowed through her, knowing her prayer had been answered.

Marian realized she did indeed know the guard called Bruno. She'd seen him before working as a bouncer, protecting the women at The Cherry Pit. Lifting her voice, she called out to him.

"Bruno?" she called. "I knew I recognized you! I'm a friend of Maggie, who works at the-"

"You know Maggie?" he asked, clearly surprised.

Marian nodded. "She's a friend of mine, as is Allan a Dale. Do you know him? He's Tavern Keeper at the Trip. He calls Maggie, 'Magpie.' "

"That bug eyed, bulbed nose braggart, what's breakin' Maggie's heart?" Bruno growled.

As Robin was quick to attest, Marian was astute. She saw at once that Bruno fancied Maggie, and was jealous of Allan. If she was to gain her freedom, she needed to use her alliances wisely. "Yes," she answered, carefully. "In fact, I was planning to scold him about that. How is Maggie? My husband and I need to return some jewels of hers we recently borrowed."

The other guard, losing interest, settled back with his wineskin, gulping down ale as if it were water, but Bruno was suspiciously interested in all Marian had to say.

"How do I know you're not lying?" he asked. "How does a fine lady like you know Maggie?"

"She helped us, when we were outlaws," Marian truthfully told him. "My husband is Robin Hood. For a short time, Maggie lived with us, in the forest. She's very sweet, and brave. And only this week, she helped me rescue my husband when he was falsely accused by the chancellor." Letting this soak in, she paused, then wanted to know, "Why are you helping the queen? She's no friend to Maggie."

Bruno hung his head, ashamed. "The Queen's Majesty promised me riches if I helped her with you."

"So you kidnapped me, tied me up, then would break my neck, for money? I wonder what Maggie would have to say about that!"

"Maggie'll never know."

"But you will. You'll never be able to forget. The bad things you do will haunt your dreams. Believe me, I know. If you want to be worthy Maggie, help me go free. Or would you rather kill an innocent woman?"

Bruno gulped, then made up his mind. The other guard was snoring, deep in a drunken slumber.

"I'll free you, even if the queen kills me for it."

"You're a good man," Marian said, thankfully. "And she won't. Robin and I will protect you."

Cutting through her bonds, Bruno almost smiled. "How can a little slip of a girl like you protect a great hulking brute like me?" he asked.

"You'd be surprised," Marian said, borrowing an expression of her husband's, unused to being called a "little slip" of anything.

Freed from her bonds at last, Marian tried to stand, but collapsed to the ground. Her limbs had turned to jelly.

With one heavily corded arm, Bruno swept her up, flinging her over his shoulders.

"Where are we going?" Marian asked, as he took off running through the forest.

"Home," he told her. "Your new home, for awhile anyway."

"My new home? No! Take me to Locksley!"

"Can't risk it, Your Ladyship. You're coming with me, to the Cherry Pit. You'll be safe there. The girls'll look after you fine."

"But...no! I want to go home!"

"Shut your mouth, or it's back to the cave. You have a new life now, away from the queen's claws and fangs. Yes, the Cherry Pit's the only safe place for both of us."

Marian sighed, realizing she had little choice. But at least she was safe. Smiling, she felt proud she'd managed to talk her way free, then grimaced, as evey jolt upon Bruno's shoulders washed waves of pain throughout her body.

Never mind, she thought. Once she regained the use of her legs, she'd flee the Cherry Pit and never look back. Her last thought before she passed out was that Robin must be worried sick about her.