A/N: This took a while, but in my mind moving to another country is a good excuse. So there we go :) Thanks to Emmithar for the beta once again!

Chapter 3: Pursuit

It had been simply marvelous at first. When the sheriff had found the letter delivered to him, still being in his pajamas himself, he had barely dared to believe his luck. King Richard had been taken captive! He didn't care at all who that duke was who had accomplished the feat, but he hoped that the man would take care of the troublesome king for a long time coming. The message had added a very interesting point to the one he had received several weeks before. Back then a letter had told of the impeding return of King Richard. The man had left the Holy Land behind and was to return to England after several years of absence. It was an event for that the sheriff had been planning for a long time.

The new information had brought this to a halt. It interfered with his plans, yes, but it had been even better than those. The sheriff had been giddy with joy when he had learned of the king's misfortune. Now the pesky king was out of the way, with no worries of having to disguise any strange manners of sudden death. In fact, none of this would trace back to him, Vaysey had realized with glee. He had read the letter again, laughing as he danced about the room. This manner had fully confused Gisborne upon his arrival.

Things only went downhill from there. While Richard was still in captivity, things had come in motion in England. There were plenty of rumors going around and Vaysey knew only part of them disproved or confirmed by messages he received.

It was said that the Queen Mother was working for Richard's release, trying to raise the money that would be necessary to do so; it was a sum that Vaysey knew would be several times the annual income of the crown. The endeavor was doomed to fail. There was another rumor that he had good information for to be true. Prince John and the King of France had offered money for Richard to be kept captive, a feat that the sheriff wished to have thought of.

It was a marvelous idea, no matter what it was coming to now. Vaysey grinned at the thought, as he watched Gisborne entering his chamber.

But while the idea was genius, the results were not, at least not for the Sheriff of Nottingham. This morning yet another message had arrived from London. The Prince had not openly confirmed the offer he had made to prolong the captivity, but had instead spoken long-windedly of the need to raise the money for the ransom. The demands to the sheriff had been less flowery. The amount of tax money that was to be sent to London was to be increased drastically. The sheriff knew it was hardly possible to fulfill the demand, even if he were to squeeze out the peasants to the very last. Not to mention that there was still a nasty little problem around.

Nottingham, as usual, had fallen behind in sending the tax money, and Vaysey knew that raising taxes would do no good. Hood would just swipe it all, especially in these desperate times. Not that the peasants would actually be able to buy any more food, even if they were to get their share of the loot. Vaysey knew that there was simply no more available this winter. Knowing this, he had ordered the guards to pay extra attention to the storages of the castle, as well as to any poaching that may be going on in the forest.

What was mostly on his mind though was the pressure coming from London. He looked with mild curiosity at the man in front of him. He knew that Gisborne had been wasting his time with the leper again. The man just wasn't able to forget about her, dragging her about the castle to every single event, even to the recent festive dinner that the sheriff had certainly not hosted to give Gisborne an opportunity to spend time with her... He was obsessed with her…and Marian knew that, Vaysey was very well aware of it. So it had been yet more annoying when he had recently found Gisborne asking him to release Sir Edward out of the dungeon. He had naturally declined, and Gisborne hadn't tried again, though Vaysey was amused briefly by the question as to how he had explained the failure to Marian.

"Have you made any progress?" he finally asked, rolling his eyes already in anticipation of an unsatisfying answer.

"Hood has not been in town for weeks, the weather must be stalling him," Gisborne replied and Vaysey was now certain that nothing useful could come out of this conversation. He was not even going to ask the man if he was certain about what he had said.

"John is demanding his share of tax money, as you know."

"Yes, my Lord."

"And we do not have it." Vaysey wondered in how much he really had to spell it out.

"Then we will raise more."

"Why?" the sheriff wondered mildly. "So Hood can spread it under the peasants once again? The poor starving souls, who won't even be able to buy any food from it anyway?"

Gisborne's expression showed a frown ever so slightly. "He has not been sighted in weeks, my Lord." His sound told of his wonderment to have to repeat his earlier statement.

"Oh, and you don't think he will show his face again once he learns of treasure being carried around?"

"Then we have to stop him."

"Marvelous! Gisborne, why haven't we thought of this before?" he squealed happily, clapping his hands. "Oh, wait a minute...we have! It doesn't work!"

"Then obviously we're doing something wrong."

"And what is that, Gisborne? I'm weary of playing these guessing games." He knew Gisborne would not have a fruitful answer, so the sheriff decided to drop the topic for now and turn to more delightful matters. "You know Lord Denby is arriving tonight, if he is arriving and you have not failed at the necessary security once again..."

"Yes, my Lord."

"So do us all a favor and leave your little leper behind for once. Keep your head where it belongs," the sheriff waved him away, knowing he would have to think about the problems at hand on his own, as well as about the opportunities the upcoming visit would offer.

Robin hadn't expected to be back in Nottingham quite so soon. He didn't really mind though; it was Much who had fussed about it, especially about the fact that Robin had wanted to go alone once again. The others had been with Much on the matter though and Robin had finally agreed that the whole gang was to visit the town. It would do them all some good to get out for a bit, despite how uninviting the weather truly was.

He wasn't quite sure what the gang were planning to do there though. Even if they kept to themselves, people were bound to recognize them. They would plead for whatever little the outlaws had, yet Robin knew that they had nothing left to hand out. He hoped that they would not raise any false hopes in the town. Maybe people would expect that the men had come to help, but would be disappointed in this matter. Robin didn't like the idea at all, wondering if there was any lingering ill-will against him left in any way.

Once they had slipped into town, the gang went their own ways, while Robin prepared to sneak into the castle once again. He hadn't told his men about that detail, figuring they would want to follow him, if he told them so directly, but he guessed that they had an idea about what he was doing anyway.

But he had not even made it to the castle yard when he saw a very familiar figure sneaking along an alley. He didn't know what she was up to and followed her, planning to ask her just that. He didn't want to expose her to any watchful eye though, so he was careful in his pursuit.

Then Marian moved around a corner and he lost sight of her. Hurrying now, he leapt over a pile of firewood, skirting around the corner as well. He spotted her and saw also what she was on the look-out for.

Gisborne was marching over the market place, moving right ahead towards the inn. He didn't enter immediately though, but seemingly hesitated outside, before approaching a beam of the house and rubbing his hand over what Robin believed to have been a sign made of chalk, blurring it effectively. Then the man moved into the tavern.

Marian hurried over to the inn, pulling the hood of her heavy winter cloak over her head. Robin followed. Much to his discomfort, she entered the tavern as well. Robin tensed, wondering what Gisborne would think if he were to catch her inside, following him.

He was unsure as to what to do. Even now there were dozens of foot tracks in the muddy snow, leading to the building both Gisborne and Marian had entered moments ago. His curiosity demanded that he went in there as well, but then if Marian was to be caught following Gisborne, it was better if he was not there to be caught alongside of her, or any excuses she'd be able to come up with for Gisborne's sake would be futile.

So he did his best to blend in with the crowd that was moving over the market place, wandering seemingly carefree along the row of houses at one side of the place then, keeping an eye on the tavern.

It took mere minutes until Gisborne emerged from the building, striding with large paces over the market, heading for the castle yard. His face was set in a grim expression and Robin still wondered what had gone on inside. Seconds later Marian came outside as well. Her face was still hidden by the cloak that she had drawn up over her head . More surprising than her reappearance was yet another person that followed out of the inn soon after, when Robin was already heading over to intercept Marian.

Robin stopped for a moment, looking at the man in mild confusion. Of course he knew that the gang was around somewhere in town, but it still was puzzling as to why Allan would leave a tavern just moments after Gisborne and Marian had. It could be a coincidence, he reminded himself, but just as well the outlaw could be up to something and Robin wanted to know what this would be.

There wasn't much time to ponder over it, knowing that Marian was disappearing quickly. Deciding to follow her for now, knowing that he needed to speak with her, he didn't bother keeping an eye on Allan. They would talk later.

Marian was already way ahead of him by now and he hurried his step to catch up with her. It was then that he saw Gisborne suddenly stopping ahead of Marian, then turning around with a frown on his face.

Marian had quickly ducked out of sight, retreating a few steps in Robin's direction then. Gisborne seemed to have caught sight of her though, for he took several large strides in her direction. Marian turned a corner into a backalley, while Robin wove in and out of people, trying to get closer to her, while Gisborne was looking around as to where she had gone.

Robin finally slipped into the alleyway that led parallel to the one Marian had been moving down, and running at full speed now, he turned several corners in quick succession, coming up to where he expected her to be. He spotted her, seeing her trying to find cover as he noticed Gisborne entering the alleyway at the other side, guards on his heels now. The man knew that something was going on...

Robin dashed forward, pushing against the wooden door of a house in the narrow lane, finding with relief that it was opening. It took another moment and a surprised look from Marian to get them both into the house, Robin bolting the door from the inside.

"Robin!"

Robin hushed her, taking only a short glance into the room they were in to ensure that they were alone, before peeking through a crack between the wood that had been used to board up the windows, keeping the cold of the winter outside.

Marian tried to peek outside as well then and he could feel her next to him, a hand coming to lie on his shoulders.

Outside in the alley, he could see a flash of black leather and knew that Gisborne was wandering around outside, probably still trying to discover where the person that he was pursuing had gone. Robin felt his heart beating quickly, but was smiling by now. Another few moments and any sight of Gisborne was gone.

Robin turned around with a grin, happily taking Marian into his arms. Her expression softened as well and it put Robin in quite a cheery mood to think of Gisborne searching outside in frustration, while he was having Marian with him inside here.

"What were you doing?" he asked her then, referring to her following Gisborne. He knew it wasn't the first time she had done this, it was the way she got much of the information she gave to the outlaws later, but still, he felt uncomfortable. If Gisborne were to catch her off guard and she failed to come up with a good excuse...

"Gisborne met somebody in the tavern."

Robin nodded. It was to be expected. He doubted the man would go to the public place to drink; this he could do with plenty of access to the castle's kitchen as well.

"Did you see who?"

Marian hesitated and Robin felt dread coming up inside of him.

"No, I didn't... Gisborne didn't seem happy though. They talked only for a few moments, before he left." She frowned.

"But you've got a suspicion?" Robin insisted.

She nodded. "I'm sorry... but I think it is one of your men."

Robin closed his eyes for a moment, pressing his lips together, trying to digest the information. "Why do you think so?" He himself had seen Allan leaving the tavern as well, but still he did not want to believe the implication.

"I... listened." She sighed. "Gisborne's been hinting at a new source of information when he's talking to the sheriff. It's been going on for a while, as it seems. I hadn't heard about it for a while, could be because of the weather. But I noticed that he seemed to have information every time the gang had been in Nottingham..."

Robin sighed. So perhaps the sheriff's words were true. Months ago, when the whole gang, apart from Djaq and Will had been captured, the sheriff had told him that there was a traitor in his gang. It had been to torment Robin even more, as the sheriff was in the belief of finally accomplishing his goal to kill Robin. Robin hadn't known what to believe, but Marian's words reminded him of all the doubts he had pondered back then. There was a traitor among him. But who? His thoughts drifted, Allan coming up in his mind. Was it possible the man was responsible? He was at the inn the same time Gisborne was, but then, Allan being at the inn at all wasn't anything suspicious. It was in the man's nature to gravitate there.

"Tell this to no one," he warned Marian quietly. He would sort things out on his own. If he had time for it that was, remembering the reason he had actually come to town. "I'm going to look into it... The gang and I, we're going to leave for a while... if there's a traitor, then they're not going to be able to talk to Gisborne for the time."

Robin figured that if Gisborne was still getting his information, it would show that no member of the gang was responsible. He didn't tell Marian this, but he assumed she would work it out on her own.

The frown reappeared on her face. "Leaving, why?"

There was something in her eyes that reminded Robin of the time when he had told her that he was to leave for the Holy Lands. Back then he had not known it would be for five long years, though he could not have assumed it to be much less than many months of absence. He had abandoned her then as well, not only Locksley. Her cool behavior towards him when he had finally returned, wasn't a surprise then, when he thought about it now, though he had expected a much warmer welcome back then.

He wondered if turning outlaw and going to the forest had been yet another abandonment in her mind. She might not have wanted to admit any feelings for him anymore back then, and he could not blame her.

But now was not a time to ponder that. All that mattered was seeing to the King's release, and bringing him home, all the while trying to ensure the peasants survival. Once he was here, they could discuss the finer points of life, and try and sort out where they had gone wrong in the past. He laid a hand against her cheek, caressing it for a moment as he smiled.

"We will not be gone for long. I will come and see you when we return."

She nodded. "Is it about the king?"

"No, not directly. We're going to get another food delivery to the villages. If the sheriff isn't getting anything to them, we have to. We have money that we can give, but what good does that do when there is no food to buy? They can't eat silver." He paused. "I do hope to gain more information about the king's captivity though. Maybe I can learn more elsewhere, see what others are saying."

"I'll see what more I can learn as well. You take care of yourself and your men."

He leaned in once more, placing another kiss on her forehead. "The same counts for you." He grimaced. "You think Gisborne has left by now?"

She smiled. "He's probably back at the castle."

"You want me to go out first?"

Marian shook her head, moving to the door. "If he sees me, I'll just tell him that I grew cold, and was trying to seek shelter. If he sees you, you're in trouble." She smiled weakly.

"Alright. I'm going to wait long enough for you to get back to the castle."

"Don't want me being caught with outlaws." She was still smiling.

He smiled back, but he thought of his plea to come with him to the forest. When he thought about the conditions they were facing right now, he didn't want her to be there, but then he always feared for her, when she was at the castle. Right now was not the time to approach the topic again.

"I will come and see you, when we return," he promised again, and she nodded, before removing the bolt at the door. She opened it carefully, before slipping outside, shutting it behind her. Robin bolted the door once again, ensuring nobody would be able to enter and find an outlaw just having met with her. He peeked through the crack in the wood again, but Marian was already gone. Now he just had to wait for enough time to pass for her to get back to the castle, hoping Gisborne would not still be around outside. Robin couldn't deny that he had enjoyed it, but then he also had to admit that he often endangered her, when he sneaked up to her room, or met her in places like this. He just hoped that times would come, when this secrecy would not be necessary anymore.

TBC