YAY! I reached 1000. actually rather exicted :) this means that 1000 people have viewed, unless i just have like 5 fans who really like reading my story :L anyway thanks to everyone who has read! and thanks to my reviewers! Just wanted to say that this story is going to be done in like like 6 or 7 chapters. :O :'( but dont panic i have a new one on its way :D anyway thats enough rambling. enjoy

Chapter 16

Holy land – a year later, April, 1191

The king and his army had made little progress in the war in the past 3 years, soon approaching 4. Saracens had continued to ambush the crusaders and crusaders had continued to kill Saracens, it was a stale mate with no progress happening soon. Robin had begun to realise that who they were fighting weren't so different to themselves. They worshipped a god, not the same god but it was still a god. He was half way through reading the Qur'an and had taught himself how to speak Arabic. Many men had died on each side and Robin knew that the blood on his sides would never be gone. The lives he had taken could not be brought back and so he had to put them out of his mind so he could face another day. "Roger you are going back to England so I'm told." Robin said walking to one of his men and also a good friend.

"Yes sir that is correct my father has died and left my land in ruins, it needs to be sorted out."

"Roger, its Robin to you, we are friends. I wonder if you will do a job for me?" Robin asked pulling a letter from his back pocket quickly glancing inside to ensure it was the right one then handed it to Roger. "Nottingham is not so far from stoke. Would you take this to lady Marian of Knighton. At least I think she will be there, I have heard rumours she was due to marry Leighton." Robin's face turned sombre, the thought of Marian being with another man was hard for him to face.

"Of course, I will take it to her Robin." Roger smiled.

"Godspeed Roger." Robin shook the man's hand. Robin watched his friend mount his horse and then head of towards the coast. After Roger had disappeared from view Robin made his way back to the camp. He took out another note from his second pocket. The note read:

To my dearest Marian,

I know that I have no right to call you that anymore, not since I left. But I needed to speak this, more and more lives are lost and I wanted to tell you my thoughts in case I am next in line.

Marian, I shouldn't have left you, I realise that now. Every time I think you my heart aches. I am sorry if I have caused any pain or hurt, I am truly sorry. I love you Marian, you are my life and without you I feel empty.

I still feel you in my arms and I smile every time I think of how we would ride through Sherwood, or sneak out late at night. I still put my thumb up to the moon like I showed you that one night.

I can only hope that you have not married Leighton, and that you have somehow found it in yourself to forgive me, for leaving and will wait for me. I cannot write these words to a married women, that is unfair to you. This is why I will not send this message with Roger, but send the other instead.

Once again I am sorry, I love you Marian.
Yours forever, Robin.

He folded the note back up, walking past the fire he held it out to drop it in. But something stopped him, he tucked it back into his pocket. He had lost the right to send Marian such letters, or so he thought. He headed back towards Much so they could head to the market.

"So you finally sent a letter to Marian?" Much asked as they wondered around the market. Robin knew exactly what he wanted but he couldn't remember where he had seen it. He had a quiver full of arrows on his back but no bow, Much was slightly confused by this.

"Yes Much I sent a letter, saying I hope she as well and telling her that you and I were both alive and well." Robin said, somewhat annoyed at not being able to find what he wanted and at Much's constant questioning of Marian.

"Oh that was it?"

"Yes Much, that was it." Robin huffed. Suddenly he stopped he ran across the market place and stopped at a stall. That was it, what he had been looking for. A Saracen re-curve bow. He had used one only a handful of times, some of his men found one and bought it back to camp, they had taken turns firing it. Then Robin woke the next morning to find it had been used as fire wood. It was then he knew he wanted to buy one. He had searched the market to find one, but hadn't had enough money with him to buy one.

The following Friday

Robin picked up the bow and pulled the string tight, then released. He smiled and handed the vendor the money, he span around and made to run back to Much but instead he collided with a young Jewish woman, she fell to floor and the contents of her basket emptying over the floor. "I am terribly sorry." Robin said helping her up. Robin couldn't help but notice how similar she looked to Marian.
"Let go of me! Crusaders are all the same, you only care about yourselves!" The young woman shouted pushing Robin's arm off her. She bent down and picked up her basket, "And now I have to go and buy this all again." She sighed.

"Here let me pay for it," Robin said pulling a bag of his belt.

"I do not need your charity."

"Ok so the least I could do is accompany you to buy the items." His signature smile shining through caused the girls anger to melt away.

"Very well." She smiled.

They walked around the market whilst Rachel, Robin had learnt was her name, bought the items. "You know I would feel better if you would allow me to pay." He said purposely bumping into her, only gently as not to knock her over again.

"And as I said, I do not need you charity." She smiled pushing him back.

"Master! Master!" Much was running towards Robin. "Thank goodness I found you, the king needs us back at camp." Much said breathlessly.

"Ok I'm coming Much." Robin said then turned to Rachel. "I am sorry for today, it was lovely to meet you."

"It was surprisingly nice to meet you to." Rachel smiled.

"Until next time, Rachel." Robin smiled and kissed her hand. She turned slightly red and smiled.

"Until next time, crusader." And she turned and walked towards her home.

"Well she seemed nice, perhaps now you can stop moping about Marian." Much said once they were out of the market.

"I do not mope!" Robin insisted, becoming even more annoyed with his friends constant uprooting of Marian. Robin needed to try and forget her, and he couldn't do that with Much speaking of her every minute. Robin remembered the new bow he had in his hand and smiled. "What do you think?" He asked Much, desperately trying to change the subject.

"It's very good master. Can you shoot it?" Much asked.

"Do not worry Much, I'm sure when the time comes it will save our lives just as the other one did. Oh and before I forget. My other bow, is now yours." Robin smiled. "As thanks for services to me." Much smiled and rushed off ahead to claim his bow.