Disclaimer: I do not own or profit from this work. Only OC's belong to me.

Author's Note: We are almost done with the season 2 of Robin Hood. Everything else after will be AU.

Chapter 18: Dead Man Walking

Eleanor woke up just as exhausted and sore but dragged herself out of bed. She hoped she wasn't getting sick, she couldn't afford it.

After pinning up her braid she quickly went to the kitchen and was happy to see Sarah had arrived. She motioned for Sarah to follow her to her bedroom and the two of them entered to find Gretchen changing Ygrainne into a day dress. "And who is this little one?" Sarah asked.

"My niece, Ygrainne," Gretchen said. "She is mine, now."

"What?" Sarah asked surprised. "What happened?"

They recounted the last few days and Eleanor's idea of Ygrainne staying with Sarah's daughter during the day. "I can take you to my sister after I dress Lady Marion," Sarah agreed. "Jess will be happy with the company, I'm sure," she smiled at Ygrainne. Sarah and Eleanor quickly returned to the kitchen to help prepare breakfast.

Eleanor saw Allan walk past the door several times as he worked, always peeking in trying to get her attention but she couldn't get a moment to leave.

She finally was able to slip around the side door to find him waiting against a pillar. He pushed himself off when he saw her coming and wrapped an arm around her to draw her close for a kiss. "How's Gretchen?"

She saw he was beating himself up over it. "She is adjusting. We figured out what to do, stop blaming yourself."

"I wasn't there to keep an eye on the mercenaries evacuating the village."

"Even if you were there they could still have harmed someone, Allan."

"But not Gretchen's family," he argued.

"He was grieving and wasn't thinking right. That is hardly your fault," Eleanor pointed out.

Allan sighed. "What did you guys decide to do?"

"Sarah's sister is going to watch Ygrainne." Eleanor figured they would find someway to pay her and feed all three of them somehow. Surely between both of their wages they could do it.

"Tell Gretchen I want to help." Eleanor ogled him. "Ey," he said knowing that look.

"What did you need to talk to me about? I have to get back."

"Gis and the sheriff are leaving and taking me with them," Allan said.

"Leaving? For what?" Eleanor wondered. She looked out at the courtyard and saw the carriage. If they were traveling by carriage they were planning on going some distance.

"I don't know, but I am hoping this is a good sign," he admitted. "If they are taking me, I have to be that much closer to being accepted by them."

"Allan," Eleanor said warily.

"Nora," Allan sighed. "I know which side my bread's buttered on. Robin won't take me back, I have to accept that and move on. This could be good for us."

"Or bad, really, really bad," she warned. "Where are you going?"

Allan looked around to see they were alone. "Portsmouth," he said. "I don't know why, and I don't care."

Eleanor saw Allan really was trying not to care what they were going to do. "Allan, you are better than this. You should care!" she hissed. She stepped back and headed back to the kitchens, shaking her head. He quickly placed himself between her and the kitchen. "Look, I told you before I don't like keeping my money all in one place," he said pulling out a pouch. He tucked it in her apron before she could refuse. "I won't be here for a bit, if you need anything…"

"Allan, I told you before, I am not going to use your money."

"Hey, this is for an emergency," he said. She scurried around him back inside before her absence was noted.

She loaded up Marion's platter and followed Sarah up the stairs. Sarah excused herself early to go with Gretchen so Eleanor helped Marion lace up. "Today is Robin's birthday," Marion said happily. "I am hoping by his next birthday we will be able to be wed," she admitted.

"Why do you wait?" Eleanor asked as she worked.

"He wants Richard to give me away. I want the King to be back and England to be safe." Marion looked over her shoulder at Eleanor behind her. "Hasn't Allan proposed?"

"No, not in so many words, and even if he did …" Eleanor trailed off. "Well, I don't think about it to much," she smiled. "We have other things to worry about."

"Such as?" Marion asked turning around to look at her.

"Such as making sure Gisborne and the sheriff don't tire of him," Eleanor admitted. "Helping out friends," she added thinking of Gretchen.

"I told him I would speak to Robin for him. After everything Allan has done to help me, I know that will mean something to Robin."

Eleanor smiled at Marion. "I am going to guess he didn't accept your help." Marion laughed. "I would ask you to speak to Robin, Marion. He wants to be with his friends, despite what he says. Truth be told," she trailed off. Marion waited for her to finish. "He has given up hope of rejoining them which is what makes me sad. He won't be happy otherwise."

"He could be happy with you."

Eleanor shook her head. "Not if his friends have forsaken him. You should hear the way he tells his stories from when he was in the gang," Eleanor smiled. "If you watch him closely, you can tell."

"I think I will work in the drawing room," Marion said seeing Eleanor wanted to talk about something else. Eleanor nodded and went to get everything prepared before going back to the kitchens.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Allan saw Gretchen walking through the village. "Gretchen," he called out. She waved and walked over to him. "Nora told me about your plan. Is Ygrainne there?"

Gretchen nodded. "Yes, I don't think she likes being separated from me, which worries me. She has lost so much in so short a period of time," she began to babble but quickly stopped.

"I'm sorry. I understand if you blame me," he said.

Gretchen stared at him in shock. "You weren't there…"

"Exactly," Allan agreed.

Gretchen shook her head. "No, I meant you weren't there, you didn't see my brother. I think he knew what would happen, he just didn't care. Nothing could have gotten through to him. I just hope he is with Constance now."

"I want to help," he said quickly.

"Now you are being funny," Gretchen smiled.

Allan laughed. "No, not being funny. I want to help."

"Allan, really, no," she tried but he cut her off.

"Think of it as a gift from one friend to another. Think of it as for Ygrainne. Things are getting better for me with Gis now. Besides, it's what we do, helping people who need helping," he grinned. "You mean a lot to Nora, and me."

"Allan," she said kissing his cheek.

"I have to find Nora, I'll see you when I get back," he said running off.

"Back?" Gretchen wondered.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Eleanor was cleaning Marion's chambers when guards arrived. "The sheriff has ordered a trunk to be packed for Lady Marion."

She was confused but didn't question the order. She laid out Marion's gowns and folded them to ensure they didn't get ruined. She had no idea what she was packing for, or for how long this journey would be. She didn't even know why Marion was leaving.

She dug through Marion's things, packing what Marion would want. "Alright," Eleanor called out. "It's ready." The guards picked up the trunk and carried it down the stairs. She watched to see that they carried it to the carriage. So Marion was going with Allan, Gisborne, and the sheriff to Portsmouth?

"Nora," Allan said behind her.

"What happened?" she asked seeing his face. She gently wiped the dirt smudge off his cheek.

"Marion tried to kill the Sheriff," he said still slightly shocked.

"What?!"

"My reaction," Allan admitted. "And Gisborne admitted she was the Nightwatchman. So now we are all going together. It came out I knew she was capable of doing something like this, I talked a little too much."

She cupped his face with one of her hands. "Not being funny, you do have a habit of talking a lot," she teased, leaning up to kiss him lightly. "Find me when you get back from Portsmouth."

"That's the thing…" he started but was interrupted when Guy's voice called out, "Allan!"

"What?" Eleanor asked concerned

She saw the look on his face. She knew that look well. He didn't want to worry her, and he knew she would disapprove of whatever it was. Instead of saying anything he simply captured her lips and kissed her hungrily. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I don't think I'm quite as good as you think I am," he admitted.

"Allan," she said pulling him close for a moment. "Yes, you are. You are a good man. Trust me," she reminded him. "Please." He nodded. "Find me when you get back from Portsmouth," she repeated as Guy approached them. Allan quickly went to catch up with Guy who was striding down the hall out the door to the carriage. "Guy!" he called out. "The Holy Lands?"

Eleanor was trying not to worry about what Allan had tried to tell her. He kept something from her. These last few days had been complete mayhem, she thought. And the fact she was feeling ill and nauseous did not help matters.

"Hey," Gretchen said as they washed their faces for the evening and changed. Ygrainne wrapped herself tightly around Gretchen and wouldn't let go. "I saw Allan before he left. You will never guess what he did." She saw Eleanor's curious look. She held up the purse. "He wanted to help me. But it was what he said, Elle. And I don't mean about blaming himself. He said 'it's what we do.'"

Gretchen saw the small, sad smile on Eleanor's face. "I knew he was still at the heart of it Robin's man," Eleanor admitted.

Gretchen ran her fingers down Eleanor's face. "He'll be back. I have no doubt he will be back for you."

"Let's just get Ygrainne to bed," Eleanor said. "Ygrainne, can I hold you while Aunt Gretchen gets dressed?" she waited until the little girl nodded. "Do you want a story before you go to sleep?" Ygrainne nodded and Eleanor started to tell her about the fairies and their mischief while wondering what they were doing in Portsmouth.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Allan, we have to stop this," Marion insisted.

"Look, I already said I can't help you, Marion. I won't risk loosing things with Eleanor." He had finally just gotten into the inner circle of Guy and the Sheriff. That would mean money and security for himself and a future with Eleanor. He could give her the life she deserved.

"What has become of you?" Marion demanded. "This is the king you are going to kill! You will hang a traitor, Allan. Don't you understand? You will die."

"I was dead the moment Guy captured me, Marion," Allan said angrily. "It was only a waiting game to see who would take me out first. At least this way I can stay with Eleanor."

"Eleanor knows you are better than this. She never gave up on the Allan a Dale who was Robin's man," Marion called out angrily as Allan turned to head back inside the inn. "So Eleanor was wrong about you," Marion hissed to Allan's backside.

thanks to Fireheart (Fanfiction is the afterlife. I haven't seen season 3 but heard about the last 2 episodes and searched for them on youtube. Definitely have a thing or 2 to change!) Katieee (Thank you! Your review totally made my day! I heard they were thinking about a 4th season, I'm waiting to see. I might change the ending, I'm debating now that I've seen the finale. As for Eleanor, you'll find out more next chapter which is essentially Nora's chapter) and Crazylilreadheadgirl (I just wrote a really great Gretchen scene that we'll seen in about 6 chapters! Thanks!) for the wonderful reviews!