Even from the depths of her dungeon cell, Marian heard the pleasant sound of church bells ringing, calling the faithful to evening prayer. "Vespers," she sighed sadly. "Who will tuck Ellie into bed tonight?"

Locked in a cell just across from his wife's, Robin felt a lump rise in his throat from the sorrow in Marian's voice, as well as the thought of their daughter missing them. The king seemed to take perverse pleasure that the two of them could see, but not touch one another, yet both of them were more than grateful that they were close enough to communicate.

Just as Robin was steeling himself to be strong for Marian, her own strength triumphed over her despair. "We'll get out of this," she announced, in the determined manner Robin loved to hear. "Do you have a plan?"

She couldn't help but smile back when she saw his handsome face light up in a grin.

"As a matter of fact," he answered, "I do."

"Well, are you going to tell me what it is?"

"What? And spoil the surprise?"

"Robin! This is no time to joke!"

"I know. I just wanted to see you look at me in anger."

She couldn't stifle an angry groan, yet felt better because of his cockiness. He wasn't worried, and he had a plan. Wounded leg or not, they would get out. But then what?

"I hope your plan includes clearing our names," she told him.

"I think I'll let you handle that part. You know, sweet talk the king again, into letting us-"

"How dare you?"

"Marian! I'm sorry. I did not mean that."

"I didn't sweet talk him, Robin. If you recall, I kneed him, when he put his filthy hands on me."

"I know you did. You were wonderful, if not so wise."

"What would you have had me do?"

"Exactly what you did. I should have...I should have stopped him, before he had the chance to touch you."

"And be locked in here without me? Who would have been there, to stop him after that? I'd still have to knee him."

Her voice had turned soft, a warm soothing caress reaching him through the bars of their cells.

"I love you," he told her, his heart flipping over.

"I love you, too. Now, what's your plan?"

The sound of the door to the dungeons creaking open, accompanied by footsteps, warned them to expect company. Robin folded his arms across his chest, half expecting to see Sheriff Vaisey come traipsing down the steps to taunt him, with Gisbourne in tow.

"I knew I'd find you here!" the welcome voice of Much proclaimed. "I knew it!"

Robin relaxed, thrilled by the sight of his best friend.

"There! I've paid you. Go," Much ordered the guard.

When the guard departed, Much grinned proudly at Robin. "Bribery! Eve gave me the idea! We should have tried it more often, you know, when we were outlaws. Would have saved us a lot of trouble."

"With the bounty on my head reaching five hundred pounds?" Robin asked. "That's a lot of bribery, Much."

"Oh. Yes. I'd forgotten. Well, this is terrible! You two, in jail again! I must say, though, I'm not surprised. What did you do, Robin?"

"Have you come to chat," Marian asked impatiently, "or are you here to help us?"

"Oh, hello, Marian. What happened to your hair?"

For the second time in as many minutes, Marian groaned aloud, balling her fists into her thighs.

"Never mind, Much," Robin told him, cheerfully. "You, my friend, are an answer to prayer!"

"Me? Well, I must say, I like hearing that! Were you really praying for me?"

"On my knees. I need you to get us out."

Marian opened her mouth in indignant surprise. No wonder he'd stalled, not telling her his plan!

"Your plan depends on Much?" she asked, not believing her ears. "Much?"

"Yes, Marian?"

"I wasn't talking to you!"

"Sorry!"

Robin held up both hands, in a gesture meant to calm her. "Much can do it, Marian! Trust me!"

"Hmph!" Much snorted, realizing he'd been insulted. "There's gratitude for you! If it weren't for me, Missy, as Vaisey liked to call you, we'd all be calling you Lady Gisbourne!"

Marian answered by throwing him one of her looks, causing Much to wilt visibly before her eyes.

"Listen," Robin said, realizing they were wasting time. "Here's what I need you to do, Much. First, find the Queen Mother-"

"Queen Eleanor? Impossible, Robin, unless you want me to go to Aquitaine. Little John said she left yesterday."

"Now what?" Marian asked.

"A set back," Robin said grimly. "We can still get out of here."

"How?" Marian was beginning to panic. "The king threw the keys in the moat!"

"Shh! It's alright. Trust me, my love. I've been in tighter spots before, remember?"

"Almost daily," Much attested.

"You see! Much is calm! That should tell you something!"

Marian looked back and forth between Robin and Much, cursing herself for her weakness. "Alright," she said, steady again. "What else have you thought up, Handsome?"

Robin loved it when she called him that. Grinning broadly, he started to continue, but was interrupted by Much.

"No keys?" Much cried, panicking himself now. "Robin! Wha-wha-wha...What was the king planning? To lock you two up, until you die?"

"Until we starve to death. One of His Majesty's favorite games."

"But-but- but...! There's food in your cells!"

"A gift from the Queen," Marian explained, her voice echoing the snideness in Robin's recent tone.

"Well! That was nice of her!" Much cried. "And surprising! I mean, I know she likes you, Robin, if you know what I mean, but she doesn't like you! Or you, Marian! I mean, I'd sooner think she'd poison you, than feed you!"

"I think that was her plan, Much," Robin said, as patiently as he could.

Much's mouth gaped open. "Oh! That is revolting!"

"May we please get back to the plan?" Marian demanded.

"Are you ready, Much?" Robin asked. "Alright, here's what I need you to do. I need Will, Allan, Djaq, and John."

Much's eyes lit up. "Just like old times!"

"That's right. Now, Marian, my love, we are getting out of here. And, you'll have your emerald earrings back, as well!"

"My earrings? But, Robin, Isabella threw them in the moat!"

His only answer was to grin at her, a twinkle in his eye, while he waited for her to figure out his plan.