Disclaimer: I do not own Robin Hood, nor do I profit from this writing.

All mistakes are my own. I am getting over a terrible cold and still don't have the energy to reread this. I just didn't want to wait any longer between updates!

Chapter 11: Living Nightmare

Everyone was relieved when supper was ended and everyone lived with all their limbs attached. The next morning, when it was discovered Marion was missing, caused several moments of confusion followed by panic as everyone waited to see who would be blamed. "Honestly she is the most headstrong, willful woman in England, and yet one of us will be blamed for this," several people predicted.

As predicted, Guy went on a tirade followed by pouting. Everyone gave him a wide berth, thankful he didn't just hang people on a whim like the sheriff did. Eleanor was sent to clean up and clean out Marion's bedroom.

Allan found Gretchen outside dealing with their chickens. "Does she do it every night?"

"Who do what?" she asked confused as she got pecked by a chicken. She frowned at Allan for distracting her.

"Eleanor. Does she stay up every night?"

"Are you spying on us?"

"A little. I've seen her up occasionally when I've had to do rounds. So last night I stayed up to see if she did it again. She got up three times."

"Three?" Gretchen asked surprised. "I thought it was only 2 now."

"So she does do it every night?"

"When she first arrived at the castle she would wake nearly every hour. Now she is only doing it twice a night, I thought. Or she is getting better at keeping it from me."

"But why?"

"Allan, I won't tell you her secrets. She will tell you when she is ready. It took me to long to learn them from her."

Allan gave a frustrated sigh. "I'd tell you everything you want to know about Much."

"Whoever said I wanted to know about Much?"

Allan grinned. "Fine, be just as stubborn as Eleanor then. I'm off to catch 40 winks," he said as he went off and found a quiet part of the castle. He had just leaned back to doze off when suddenly Gisborne was waking him up. "I want Marion."

Everyone knew that. "Do you know where she is?"

Gisborne gave him a dark glare. "Find her."

"How?"

"Snoop around. Do your job. Earn your keep besides getting friendly with the servants," he barked out.

"Ey," Allan said but Gisborne was already leaving.

Meanwhile, Gretchen and Eleanor were outdoors with the last of the wool to be spun before winter set in. "He has been asking about you," Gretchen said as they took up the carding tools. They would spend the winter weaving, dying, and knitting it.

"What? What about?"

"Your past."

Eleanor looked up at her shocked and confused. "You haven't told him anything, have you?"

"Of course not, I thought you trusted me."

"Sorry, I just get a little crazy thinking about it."

"You don't have to be frightened now. You are here, it is to far from your village. You are safe. And I think Allan would help you if he knew."

"Why would he?" Eleanor demanded. "He has no reason to, nor do I tend to give him one."

"Why are you being so stubborn? Why can't you see that there is something between the two of you?"

"Whatever the attraction is will soon wear off," Eleanor predicted. "I fully expect to spend however many years are left of my life here."

"Fine pair of spinsters we'll make," Gretchen sighed. She didn't push it as she saw Eleanor was upset. Allan waved her over so Eleanor sat her work down to see what he wanted.

"I am off to find Marion," Allan said as they walked towards the stalls in the square.

"What?"

"Guy told me to find her."

"Does he suspect she is working for Robin?" Eleanor asked quickly.

"No, thank God. He told me to snoop."

"You could snoop and come up empty handed," she offered.

"Or find her in a place to mourn her father."

Eleanor puzzled over that. She didn't understand that connection between people that drove some to mourn. "Well, I have never had to mourn anyone really, but I suppose if she was as upset as people say she is, she would want someplace quiet, some solitude. She has the resources to find lodgings anywhere."

"I was thinking of Ripley Convent."

"That would work, if you could get a letter from her telling Guy that. Do you think they will listen long enough for you to explain?"

"I hope so," Allan said. "I wanted to see you before I went off, though." In case, he thought.

"Robin is a royal prick if…" she trailed off, freezing beside him.

"Nora?" he asked looking to see her pale as a ghost. He looked to see what she was looking at. "What's wrong?"

"No—nothing," she said gasping for a deep breath. "I thought I saw someone, it is nothing," she said. "Be safe," she said as she turned and quickly blended into the crowd to head back to the castle.

"Nora?" he pushed his way through the crowd and found Gretchen staring after Eleanor who had rushed back into the castle like the banshee was chasing her.

"What happened?" she demanded Allan.

"I don't know. I was saying goodbye and she froze. She thought she saw someone in the market place," he said.

Gretchen paled. "She couldn't have. This is Nottingham. Did she see him, or just think she saw him? She used to see him even though he wasn't actually there."

"Him who? How can I protect her if I don't know what is going on?"

"Did she see him?"

"She said she 'thought' she saw him."

Gretchen took a steadying breath. "She is just shaken up, then. Be careful and just come back. One less thing for her to worry about."

"I think worry is a bit of a stretch," Allan said sourly.

"I know it doesn't make sense, but be patient, Allan. If you care at all, be patient," she said grabbing the wool and heading inside.

Confused and frustrated he found his horse and headed towards the forest.

He made sure the guys were gone before he approached Marion. Last thing he wanted was to have another go with his former friends. Although—assuming he came out alive—it would give him a chance to have Eleanor patch him up again. She was a little braver about him trying to touch her, even innocent touches. Having her patch him up was the perfect excuse to have physical contact.

Although if he lost an eye… "You could have had my eye out!" he said incredulously, eying the dagger.

"Serves you right for sneaking around the forest. What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you. I made sure you were on your own first, I know what the boys would do if they found me."

"So you are here for me?" Marion asked surprised as she retrieved her daggers. "Why?"

"Gisborne is looking for you. I obviously didn't tell him you were probably here."

"Obviously."

"But I need to tell him something. I thought you could have joined the Convent of the Immaculate Conception. Praying, mourning, and whatnot."

"Why are you helping me?"

"Hey, look, I'm not all bad," Allan said defensively. The more he had to defend himself the more he wondered why Eleanor believed in him.

Marion studied him, thinking about the plan. "It wouldn't work, all letters out of the convent have to be signed with Mother Superior's seal." She studied Allan. He had obviously come to try to help her. Maybe there was something good in him.

"I can handle that."

"How?" Marion wondered.

"I'm good with nuns," Allan smirked.

"I don't want to know," Marion drawled. "I'll find a bit of parchment."

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Where did the plan go wrong? Why did Guy have to be insufferably stubborn and pig headed and refuse to let Marion be in peace? Even Allan knew there was a point where a man could bestow to much attention to a woman.

He was trying to figure out how to stall Guy long enough to get a message to Marion when the gate rose and a guard called for Guy. He followed after Guy and stared in shock at seeing Robin's body laid out. He saw the others cloaked and wondered if this was part of a plan. He couldn't see how dead could be part of any plan, not even one of Robin's.

"Well, let's make doubly sure then," Guy said withdrawing his sword when Marion shouted.

Allan was relieved as they took Robin's body inside. Surely whatever plan they had would succeed now.

Gretchen was climbing the stairs as guards began to swarm past her. They were everywhere and didn't care if a lowly servant was in there way. She wouldn't be the first to get trampled was her only thought as she tried to get out of their way in the narrow staircase.

Arms pulled her out of the way as they rushed passed her. She looked at the cloaked man. "Minstrel and hero," Gretchen smiled at Much. "I have to admit, I like this hooded figure look much better than your minstrel one." She took a look out and saw it was clear and headed back to her chores, missing the surprised and delighted look on Much's face.

Eleanor was sent to fetch more fabric for the sheriff's banquet now that Robin was dead. She tried to get out of the chore, she detested the thought of going back when she ran into Allan. "Do you want to talk about this morning?"

"I assume everything went well with Marion."

"I know you don't trust me, Nora. But you are also the only one that believes I am more than a traitor. That has to mean something."

"It means I still think you are a good person. Certainly better than Robin at the moment."

"I appreciate more than I could ever say that you stickup for me, Nora. But Robin is-- was-- a great man. And right now it looks like the sheriff is going to gleefully put his head on a pike."

"If Robin was half as great as you claim…"

He cut her off. "Robin is better than people like us."

She slapped him as hard as she could. "I won't have you make me feel worthless, Allan a Dale," she cried out. Of all the people, it hurt worse coming from him. She stormed off into the crowd to finish her errand as quickly as possible, wanting to return to the safety of the castle.

You never expected him to think otherwise, Eleanor, she told herself. They are all the same, they all view you the same. He isn't any different.

But she had wanted him to be different. She felt disappointed in Allan, but more devastating was the disappointment she felt for herself for daring to hope. She had finally started to think maybe they had been wrong and she wasn't useless. Gretchen seemed to value her as a friend and she realized she wanted Allan to, too.

Her heart stopped as her nightmare became alive and his voice spoke up behind her. "I came to market never expecting to find you," the voice spat out. "Of all the places to find the ungrateful wench."

She froze at the sound of the voice. Her head was screaming "run!" and she heard Gretchen's voice in her head telling her to fight, but all she could do was simply stare in shock and fear. Even after all these months she found she was still terrified of him. Her stomach fell and her heart seemed to stop beating as she was unable to catch her breath.

The first hit landed square on her cheek, sending her flying back against the stable. "Been whoring yourself out, girl?" he asked, spit flying. He reached down and pulled her up by the hair. She reached up trying to get it out of his grasp, wriggling to get out of his grasp, when he kicked her squarely in the stomach. The wind was knocked out of her as he landed two more punches in quick succession before throwing her down.

"I'm surprised you haven't burnt the cottage down yet," she found herself saying, spitting blood, not sure where she found the courage. If he was going to beat her to death this time, though, than she was at least not going to take it laying down. "Perhaps it would have been best if you did." The kick landed square in her stomach.

"Ungrateful brat. Always had been. If it weren't for yer brothers and me teaching you how to act..."

"Is that what you call it? Teaching me?" she gave a cry of pain as he landed another strong kick in.

Gretchen looked out the window of the tower and saw the commotion. She dropped her basket as she leaned out the window.

Allan heard a commotion and thought the guards were straightening up after the latest Hood escapade, relieved Robin wasn't dead. "ALLAN!" Gretchen's voice rang out. He looked up and found her hanging out the window. She pointed. "Hurry!" she yelled as she raced down the stairs. He raced towards the fight now afraid of what could have terrified Gretchen, his relief completely gone as anticipation and fear took over.

His blood boiled seeing a beaten and bloody Eleanor laying on the ground as the man continued to beat on her. Allan grabbed the man's arm before he could lay another finger on her and jerked him back, barely hearing the sound of the shoulder popping out of place over the rushing of blood in his own ears.

"You lay another finger on her and I swear to God I will kill you."

"So you are who she is whoring herself out to. Don't matter none. She belongs to me."

Allan punched him, knocking him to the ground, happy to see the blood rushing down his face. "I don't know who the hell you think you are, but she certainly does not belong to you."

"'course she does. She's my daughter."

Allan saw red and punched him several more times. Guy and guards arrived pulling the man out from under Allan. "What is going on here?" Guy demanded; he was in a sour mood after dealing with Marion. He looked between Allan, the man, and his servant. "Allan?"

"He was just being escorted out of Nottingham," Allan said. "Hang him. I don't care."

He turned as soon as the guards had Eleanor's father and leaned down. Eleanor felt his touch and shied away from him and that single action broke his heart. He had never seen someone so broken, physically and emotionally. "Hey, its me," he whispered. "He's gone."

Guy took the man's purse. "This will pay for your daughter's recovery, and the time she will be missing from work," he decided. "Take him out of here. If I ever see your face in Nottingham shire you will suffer the sheriff's wrath. He doesn't appreciate others breaking his belongings."

Allan had scooped Eleanor up as gently as possible. She leaned her head against his chest in a sign of trust. Gretchen rushed up to them out of breath. "Elle?" she asked softly, frightened. She shared a look with Allan and saw the same fear in his eyes.

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Marion was waiting outside the village for the outlaws, wondering what all the added commotion was as Robin and the lads came running out. "The added commotion helped," Marion said as Robin joined her.

"Wasn't that the servant girl who yelled at us, though?" Robin asked. "It isn't every day you get a dressing down from your maid."

"Eleanor?" Marion asked in shock as they rushed back to the forest. "That was Eleanor? What happened?" she demanded.

"I don't know. I saw Allan rushing off to save her. It looked pretty bad."

"We have to help her," Marion said.

"Allan will take care of her," Carter said confidently as Robin said, "we can not go back to the castle, especially not you."

Huge thanksto feliz Navidad (I love the closet part, too ^_^) Sharnay (Thank you!) Katieeee (I love his line, too!! One of those momentary brillant-author sparks) and dfriendly (Thank you! I work hard to keep my girls originaly and un-mary sue-ish). Katherine Moonhawk I hope this is okay with what you had in mind! THis is what I had planned from the beginning and your suggestions were close!