Hellooo everyone... anybody out there. its gone very queit on the reviewing front, I hope my readers are still there. please R&R so i know someone is actually reading it, good or bad reviews honestly i dont care, constructive critisium and all that :) anyway hope you enjoy the next chapter :)

Chapter 9

Locksley village – a month later, September, 1188

It was a cold for September, Marian hoped it wouldn't spell a really cold winter she was sure that many villagers wouldn't handle it, but she was not to worry about that today as a young couple from Locksley village were getting married. She had rode with John to Locksley and had intended to leave, but when some of the villagers preparing the feast had asked if she wouldn't mind helping she just couldn't say no. The villagers attending the wedding, along with John, had entered Locksley church when Sheriff Vaisey followed by Gisborne arrived in Locksley. It had been only 2 weeks since his arrival and Marian already could not stand the man. A lot of the village weren't in the church they were preparing the outside.

"Hello everybody, you seem to think that it is acceptable to host a wedding without seeking mine or your lord's permission." The sheriff said sat atop his horse. Guards were circled around many carry lit torches. Marian had an uneasily feeling in her stomach.

"We had permission sir we asked Lord Carty." A middle aged man said after putting down his basket. Gisborne, who had already got off his horse, came striding across to the man, he hit the man across his face with the back of his hand. Gisborne had used so much forced that the man had been knocked to the ground. Marian ran across the yard towards the man to help him up.

"How dare you? You hit him without any reason. What is wrong with you?" Marian said once the man was on his feet again.

"I am lord of this manor, not Carty and not his son." Gisborne sneered.

"You will never be lord as Locksley as long as Lord Carty is alive and as long as Robin has his title." Marian scowled at both men, she wasn't scared of either, at least she wasn't until the words that flowed from the sheriffs mouth.
"Well little Robin, has flown away to war. And perhaps his father may not be here very much longer. Burn it." The sheriff said coolly and the guards ran towards the church. Marian screamed for John and tried to run after them. They placed a board against the door to stop the villagers from escaping. "And if any of you think about going behind our backs there will be consequences." The sheriff said riding away, Gisborne mounted his horse with a smirk on his face.

Marian ordered everyone outside to hurry with buckets, she could hear them slamming against the door from the inside but she couldn't get to the door without being burnt so she decided to help with buckets. They had formed a line to take the water down. The door suddenly burst open and Marian ran to find John.

"John!" She shouted running through the crowd who were running towards family and friends. Many continued to throw water onto the church and those who had just escaped were helping but it was of no use the church was going to be destroyed. "John!" Marian shouted again before a man who had been inside the church touched her arm.

"I am sorry mi'lady but he did not come out with us. Once the fire started we did not see him, I looked for him before I ran out but could not see him, I couldn't stay any longer or I would have perished. I am terribly sorry my lady." The man said before turning away. Marian felt her knees feel weak suddenly she felt heavy and that everything was falling down on top of her. She fell to the floor crying. He couldn't be dead, she would not accept it. Thornton came across the yard and took Marian's arm.

"Come on my lady, we need to help put the fire out." He said nearly dragging Marian from the floor, he knew she would not be able to help now, but that church was about to fall and onto her.

Villagers had gone into the church after the fire had stopped to look for John, when they came out they wore sombre faces, the man would had previously told Marian john had not come out, simply shook his head. Marian began to cry again, she now realised that he wasn't coming out, and that he was gone, she fell into Thornton's arms. "Come mi'lady we must get you home."

Locksley hill – 2 days later

Marian watched with tears streaming down her face as John Carty's Coffin was lowered to the ground. It was empty as they hadn't found his body, or any sort of remains. All the villagers were gathered and were all just as equally upset. The only person who Marian wanted for comfort right now was thousands of miles away, then suddenly she realised, Robin would not know of his father's death. She would need to send him a message. But now, she had to morn for the man who had always been there for her. The man who she shorn no blood with and there only connection was his son, yet she had confided in him when she could speak with no one else. He was like a father to her and she would morn for him like one.

She had rode home and ran straight to her room. She grabbed the lute from the side of the room and began to play, anything she could. She took the ink and parchment from the side and began to write down notes. Before long she had half a song coming together. Within the two hours Marian had wrote a new song and had played it through making sure it sounded right. She knew that no one would be at the grave by this time. She quickly re-saddled her horse and rode back to the grave. Once she got there she smiled slightly at the flowers on his grave. She sat cross legged at the bottom of his grave and began to play the song she had just written.