Disclaimer: I do not own Robin hood or profit from this writing.

Okay, here is the beginning of my AU season 3! Allan and Eleanor's story continues, and we will meet the woman for Guy soon ^_^

Chapter 21: Coming Back to You

They landed and procured horses at Portsmouth. Local gossip told them Guy and the sheriff had arrived a fortnight before. "Well, I think Allan is anxious to get back to Nottingham," Robin grinned. "Let's put the lad out of his misery." The others cheered in agreement.

They rode hard to make it to Nottingham in good time. "They don't know we are back yet, let's keep that to our advantage, shall we?" Robin reminded him. "I know you want to get to the castle, Allan. Just don't do anything to alert our return to them." Allan nodded.

Since it was assumed Robin was still gone, security was a little lax at the gate, making it easier for the cloaked outlaws to enter in pairs. "If we split up, we can find Eleanor quicker. Meet back here at this stall in one hour," Robin said. "One hour, Allan. One of us would have found her by then." Allan nodded. Since it was near dusk he knew they would be cleaning in the kitchen or laying fires upstairs. He hoped she was in the kitchen.

He slipped around and found a place to look in through the door. He watched the comings and goings but didn't see a sign of Eleanor or Gretchen. He tried not to worry, or grow too impatient. She could easily be working upstairs.

Returning to the stall worried him, though, when no one had any idea on where Eleanor was. "We can come back…" Robin offered.

"No," Allan shook his head. "You can go. I am going to stay." Robin eyed him and Allan was worried Robin thought he might run to betray them again.

"She will return to her chambers eventually, right?" Robin reasoned. "We can wait for that."

"They will close the gates," Will pointed out.

"They don't know about the south side wall," Allan said. "I never told them about that one."

Robin grinned. "My least favorite escape, I notice." Allan smirked and shrugged. He snuck around the back of the village till he got to the side with Eleanor's room. He waited and saw girls start to enter. He waited, but Eleanor and Gretchen never arrived, two new girls took their bed.

"What the bloody hell," Allan whispered, worried.

"Could they have moved?" Marion asked.

"We'll come back, Allan. We will find her," Robin promised. Allan nodded as they slipped around to the south gate to sneak out. They had to climb over a partial, broken wall—making them fully exposed for a moment if a guard happened to turn at the wrong moment, which is why it was Robin's least favorite—but got out unnoticed.

The next morning Robin woke them up in the camp. "I want to go to Locksley before we return to Nottingham. We need to see what changes have happened to the rest of the villages. We will find her, Allan," Robin promised.

Allan grabbed his sword. The sooner they were gone the sooner he could look again. They waited on the outskirts of the forest watching the village. "The people have moved back in, at least. That's a good sign," Marion whispered.

"It looks as if they have been here for some time," Will commented. "They must have moved back before Guy and the sheriff returned."

"Hold on," Allan said standing up and running to a cover several yards closer. He ignored the others yelling at him. He slipped around and crept into the village.

"Where is he going?" Little John asked. The others followed him carefully into the village.

Allan knocked on a cottage door. The door opened and they watched a woman throw herself at Allan before stepping back to yell at him. "Hang on, that's not Eleanor," Marion said surprised. Eleanor's hair was a shade or two darker than the blond talking with Allan.

"That's her! My her! Gretchen!" Much said in shock.

"Gretchen. What the hell? When did you move back?" Allan asked. "Is Nora with you?" Allan asked with a grin, assuming she would be with her friend.

Gretchen gave him a worried look and shook her head. "No, she's gone."

"Gone?" Allan repeated. "Gone? What do you mean gone?"

"I came back during winter when the mercenaries—well, most of them," she spat, "left. Eleanor wouldn't leave, she said she needed the money, one of us should work, no matter how terrified she was in the castle. She wouldn't come no matter how much I begged. She promised to join me in the spring, but she only sent me a message saying she was leaving Nottingham and couldn't join me because it would cause me too much trouble."

"Trouble?" Allan repeated, trying to grasp the conversation. "What kind of trouble? Where did she go?"

"I don't know!" Gretchen yelled. "I managed to make a journey to Nottingham and I can tell you, it is probably a good thing she left. But those insufferable villagers!" she yelled angrily. "I heard they chased Eleanor out."

"What?" Allan demanded. You could have pushed him over with a feather after that announcement.

"I told you, I don't know. When I asked, they only had cruel things to say about Elle."

"Where would she go?" Allan asked himself. She had no where to go, except Gretchen's. If she didn't go to Gretchen's, where would she go? "How long ago?"

"Months," Gretchen admitted. "I am happy you are alright, Allan. I've been worried about you."

"Don't worry about me," he said. "I'll find her. I have to."

Gretchen kissed his cheek. "Please, I have been worried sick."

"Are you alright here?" Allan asked. "Robin is back, don't tell anyone yet. But if you need anything all you have to do is let us know."

"Allan, you did so much for me already. Elle gave me some of the money you left her…"

He grinned. "Don't worry your pretty head about it," he assured her. "I hope for once she is sensible and uses it to help herself."

"I wouldn't count on it, unless she is in dire need," Gretchen admitted.

"Stubborn woman!" Allan sighed.

"My lady," Gretchen said recognizing Marion as Marion and Robin joined Allan at the cottage. She curtsied quickly. "Rumor has it you have died!"

"Please don't say anything to the contrary," Marion said and Gretchen nodded. "We'll find Eleanor," Marion smiled.

Gretchen nodded, looking at Allan. If anyone could, Allan could. She hoped.

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

Rumors Eleanor left north had him heading along the north road. He wasn't sure how good the advice he had was, but he stopped at Ripley Convent. It made sense in an odd way; Eleanor certainly wouldn't have problems living with only women.

A sister opened the door after his knock. "Good morning, sister," Allan said with a charming smile. Even nuns were susceptible to his charm. "I am looking for a woman, she may have passed through here a few months ago. Eleanor. She would have been coming from Nottingham."

"Just a moment," the nun shut the door. Did that mean they knew? He hoped so. Several minutes later the door opened and Mother Superior stood there. He hoped she didn't recognize him from that one time in Sherwood. "May I help you, Sir?"

"I am looking for Eleanor…"

"For what purpose?" the mother demanded.

"Purpose? Not to be funny, but that makes it sound like something sinister," Allan said easily.

"Men knocking on abbeys looking for women usually are not up to anything good. What do you wish with the girl?"

"She's here? Now? Thank God. You can tell Him I said that. Tell her Allan is here," he said. The abbess eyed Allan critically and he was afraid the woman of God would be between him and Eleanor indefinitely.

The door shut again. He didn't know if that meant he was dismissed or to wait. He would wait all night if he had to. Soon, the door opened to reveal Eleanor. "Nora?"

"Allan?" Eleanor asked clearly in shock. She shut it behind her. "You are back?" she walked away from the abbey and across the road with Allan following close behind her. She placed several feet between them as she turned back to face him.

"I am assuming you saved Marion, and the King," she said finally when he didn't say anything. He was to busy drinking in the sight of her. She had gained some much needed weight, which meant she had to be eating better at the convent than she was in the castle.

"Everyone thinks Marion is dead, but yes, we saved her," Allan said. He had to force himself not to touch her. It was like that night after the German Count, which unnerved him. "Why are you here?"

"I had to leave Nottingham and the sisters here were kind enough to take me in," was all Eleanor said.

"Nora, what's wrong? Talk to me," Allan pleaded. "I've done nothing but think about you."

"I've thought about you, too. I am happy you are well. I am glad you are back with Robin," she said sincerely.

"Nora?" his relief at finally finding her gave way to worry. "What happened?"

"You were gone a year, Allan. A lot has changed since then," she said simply. She looked over his shoulder to the odd assembly watching them.

"The lads were helping me find you," Allan said. "I can't stay long, Robin wants to visit Clun and Nettlestone. Gretchen is worried about you."

"You talked to Greta? What did she say?"

"I'm not being funny, but you seemed more worried about what she might have told me than about her welfare," Allan observed.

"I heard she was well," Eleanor hedged.

"She told me you had left," Allan eyed her. "Nora, why are you both hiding something from me?" Allan asked. "What happened? Was it the mercenaries? Lord, did your father come back?"

She paled at the thought. "Thank the lord, no. You have to go, your friends are getting impatient. I have to help the sisters."

"Did you join?"

"Even if I wanted to, they won't let me," Eleanor said simply.

"Why on earth not?" Allan asked confused.

"Go, Allan."

"I'll be back tomorrow to see you," he told her. "I promise, Nora." She nodded as she walked away from him. He watched her enter the abbey. Something had happened. It was almost as if everything between them had disappeared.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~
(A/N: Oh so tempting to end it here...)

"Isn't this a good thing, my child, about Allan's return?" Mother asked.

"He is finally with his friends. They can do more good without worrying about me," Eleanor said. "I know you do not approve, Mother. I am sorry to earn your disapproval after all you have done for me."

"It is his child too, Eleanor. Do you think he will turn both of you away?" Mother Rachel asked kindly.

Eleanor sighed. "I don't know. Things were complicated between us before. He was notorious as a charmer before. I don't, I won't risk Tom that way. Why couldn't he have taken another few days? I would have been gone already!" she sighed.

"I will have a hamper prepared for you. If you leave at dawn, you can be at the monastery by the evening meal, and a hackney will carry you to London straight from there. You can trust the brothers, Eleanor. Tuck will not put you in danger."

"I know. I thank you, Mother, for all you have done for us," Eleanor said kissing her hand. "He will grow up knowing of your kindness."

"Will he grow up and know his father?" she asked.

"I love Allan to much not to share him with Tom. At least in memories," Eleanor admitted.

She woke at first light and wrapped Tom warmly in the blankets. She bid a farewell to the sisters who were waking for prayers, and quietly but quickly started down the road towards the monastery. It was nearly a day's journey, but she was determined. She had to put distance between her and Allan.

She had only been walking for a few hours when horses raced towards her from all directions. "Circle her," she heard a man's voice call out.

Oh Lord, help me! she thought frightened, her heart threatening to beat right out of her breast. She recognized the men when they got closer as being part of Nottingham's guard. "The Sheriff has ordered your return to the castle," the leader said as they circled her.

"I am but a mother to a young child," Eleanor began, her voice trembling. "What use could I be to the sheriff?"

"He has a use for you," the guard said nudging her along the road. Tom started to cry and she tried to sooth him. "It will be quicker if you mount," the guard said.

"I'd rather walk," Eleanor said.

"It wasn't a request," he said as another reached down and lifted her onto his horse placing her in front of her. Tom cried harder and she rocked him.

"Please, take it easy," she begged the guard. "I'll cooperate, just don't ride hard." She was thankful when he gave a nod and they were off at an easy gate.

Her heart sank. She was back at the horrible castle, at the sheriff's request no less. If Allan bothered to return to the abbey he would think she didn't care and had simply run off again. Father Tuck wouldn't worry until after nightfall, and wouldn't even know to look in Nottingham.

And she knew how well Robin checked the damned dungeons.

The guard helped her dismount. "Ah, good," the sheriff said seeing them lead her in. "Place her in the dungeon. A cell for two, I see!" he clucked. "My, you have been busy this past year."

She glared at the sheriff as they led her away. "You can't put a child down there!" she yelled. "What purpose could placing us both down there be? Please, spare my son."

She knew it was useless to plead with the sheriff as he didn't even seem to hear her. They led her to a cell and locked her in. It was only past mid day, giving her plenty of time to worry about what the sheriff wanted.

She only had to wait an hour before Guy came to the dungeons. "My lord," Eleanor said as he walked past. "Lord Gisborne." He stopped and if he was surprised to see her she couldn't tell.

"If you are asking for mercy you are begging to the wrong man," he shrugged.

"Not for myself, my lord. I only ask my babe to be looked after. He is as innocent as possible."

"Like I said, it is not for me to decide." He started to walk off again.

"What use could either of us be?"

"Bait," Guy said, stunning her as he walked off again. She turned away from the bars and looked around the cell. Again. It wasn't as if a fire would magically appear on its own. She was in a dark, dank cell with nothing but moldy hay. Cries of the other prisoners being tortured and dying reached her ears. She covered Tom's ears. "Shh," she rocked him. "I am so sorry, love," she whispered, kissing his forehead as he slept. "I was trying to protect you." She wiped away a tear that leaked down her cheek.

She had no sense of time since she couldn't even see the position of the sun. It felt like hours but she had no way of knowing. "Someone must have been your friend before," the guard said as he walked up to her cell. He tossed a heavy woolen blanket through the door. She snagged it, relieved for something.

She had nothing but the smoke from the torches that seem to give off more smoke than light. Her only companion besides Tom was the cries from the other prisoners. She hummed a tune to Tom, wondering why her life had been such a sad, complicated mess.

I know updates have been quick this last week. Eleanor, Gretchen, and Marguerite (whom you will meet soon) are proving to be very, very stubborn, so I thought I would post what I have and am happy with.

Thanks to 111 (I think this is your first review. Thanks! In retrospect, your scenario for Eleanor is probably much kinder than what I have her going through ^_^), katieee (I think I will definitely work the slap in somewhere, lol. Your reviews are always uplifting. Thanks!), and crazylilreadheadgirl (you caught the hints! I am always happy when readers get the little hints I plant. I totally understand about computer problems--my own computer hates me at the moment) for the reviews!