A/N I still don't own BBC Robin Hood, its characters, and its plots. I only own my characters. This is a shorter update due to the fact I am busy this weekend with a debate competition, but the second half will be up soon and so will the next chapter that is of my own devising. Please check out my profile for a poll regarding a playlist. I love to hear your feedback. Following, favoriting, and most importantly, reviewing is helpful for me. Also keep a look out. I have many, many clues for future plots and such. If you read anything you think is foreshadow-y, let me know in a review and you can earn a surprise later on. Enjoy!

Chapter 9 Peace off?! or The Mask

"I hate you." Alex said staring down Allan.

"No you just hate working on the bow and exercise in general." he said smirking at her.

"Yes but in addition I hate you too." Alex said and she sat down, crossing her legs like a young child at school listening to the teacher.

"Get up and try again." Allan said, looking down at the stubborn woman.

"No." Alex looked down at the ground in protest.

"We can practice with swords?" Allan said in attempt to get Alex to relent and give in.

"Tempting, but no." Alex was not going to give up that easily.

"Come on, Songbird." Allan said with his Rochdale accent.

"Five, four, three, two, and one. My hour is up. Now sit down and get your paper and pen and ink." Alex smirked up at him. She leaned back and kicked her legs out and closed her eyes, basking in the sun.

"That was only twenty minutes."

"No it wasn't."

"Yes it was. I'm not bein' funny, but you are 'orrible liar." Allan said, getting his materials knowing Alex would win no matter how much they argued. She was so stubborn and so sure of herself and he loved her for that, but also hated her.

Alex smiled as Allan sat beside her, ready to do whatever she instructed with his paper n a wooden slab Will had made without context at Alex's context and a stolen inkwell and pen in his hand. "Write about what you see right now and its emotional impact on you in nay style you want. You can handle that, right?" she asked, opening her eyes for a second for his response.

"Course." Allan replied. Alex often made him write things like this. If she was going to teach him to be literate and to write, she was going to make sure he was fantastic at it. It was such a travesty that she had none of her favorite books with her when she traveled back so she couldn't really teach him about the joy of reading. This was just enough for her though. This was more enough for him. It was enough because they were together.

Allan began writing and Alex was laying on the ground with her eyes closed, thinking about water Alex thought about: usually her home, her new adventures, and Allan. Allan was about to begin writing, but paused. Should he write about what he really saw, or what he saw on a basic level? Alex usually read his work. He didn't think this would be the time to confess how beautiful she was and his true feelings. It was just too complicated and she was too good.

He wrote abut the forest and how serene it was, but in any moment it could erupt into chaos because of all the outlaws and the constantly hunting Sheriff's guards looking for him and his friends into particular. He went off into a tangent about battle and war, which was expected him being a very manly man. He was nearly done and wrote very quickly, since it had no actually passion in it. He got a new page and began to write about what he really saw and felt.

Alex was lying on the forest floor, unaware of her observer. Her eyes were closed. She had her face of thinking of something that brought her joy, indicated by her subtle smile and the slight flush to her cheeks. Allan wondered what she was thinking of. 'Her home? The gang? Of course not me.' But he was very, very wrong. She was thinking of him, writing about herm and how absurd the notion was. The two were so wrong, but so right. They were stuck.

A full forty minutes passed when Alex sat up and opened her eyes. "Give me." She held out her hand for Allan to give her his work. Allan of course had the fake one, but was writing the real one.

"Here." he said handing her the fake one. "I'll just burn these since they are pretty terrible. Lots of spelling mistakes."

Alex raised her eyebrows and stood still, staring at him. They two stared at each other, both knowing what was about to happen. It was just a game to Alex, but a matter practically of life and death to Allan.

Alex smirked and the pounced at Allan reaching for the papers. He held them high above his head and stood up, leaving Alex on the ground. She quickly stood up and brushed the dirt off of herself. "I'm coming for you, Rooster."

"You got to catch me first." Allan gripped the paper sin his hand and took off. He knew running was Alex's weakness, just above to shooting a bow and arrow.

"Hey!" Alex took after him. They chased each other, dodging trees and shrubs until Alex finally caught up to him by sneaking behind a tree. She ripped the papers from his hand.

"Ah hah! I win." Alex smiled her arrogant and proud smile only she could do.

"Oh no!" Allan then tackled her to the ground, grabbed the papers, and quickly ripped them until they were small pieces of confetti, unreadable to everyone, especially her.

"Hey!" Alex said, laughing on the ground. "That's not fair."

"Yes it is. Now admit you lost and we can be done."

"Never!"

"Alright, I did not want to do this." Allan began to tickle the young woman, knowing it was her Achilles heel.

"Stop! Mercy!" Alex said in between laughs.

"Admit defeat!"

"Fine you won!" Allan stopped at laid next to her. Alex continued laughing and giggling after Allan stopped tickling her.

"Ya know Rooster, you are gonna be the death of me someday." Alex said turning her head to Allan, still giggling.

"I hope not Songbird." Allan turned to look at her too. The two were both thinking about what to do. Be brave or be a coward. Kiss or remain friends. Thousands of logical thoughts of doubt and reason filled their heads, but their gut drove them. But before they could even lean in, they were interrupted by a call of their names form Little John.

"Allan and Alex!" he yelled from far away.

Alex sat up. "I guess we should get back." She stood up and gathered their abandoned things. Allan nodded and got up, grabbing his sword and bow and quiver. Both of them cursed themselves for being reckless with their emotions and for not being quick enough.

They all stood around the strange solider who was glaring at them in wonder. Robin filled everyone in on what had happened in the village and everyone was shocked and confused.

"So… master, forgive me, but you found him sing to burn a church, yet you save him and not the church." Much said with his usual puzzled expression.

"Because I could not fit the church on my horse!" Robin replied, also studying the former solider.

Alex carefully approached the man, at Allan's reluctance, and peeled back in shirt's collar that revealed several bizarre and black tattoos across his chest and up his neck. She presumed that they were probably everywhere. "What do these mean?" Alex asked.

Robin stepped forward to look at the tattoos. "These look like Eastern symbols."

"Do you know anything about them or recognize them, Djaq?" Alex asked.

Djaq came forward and took a closer look at the symbols. She gasped and stepped back. "I don't know." she said. It was an obvious lie. Robin frowned at her and Alex gave her a questioning look. "It could be some kind of code." Alex looked at Allan, who hand his hand stroking his chin in thought. When their eyes met, he raised his eyebrows in a shrug. Djaq stared at the Crusader's tattoos knowingly and fearfully.

"It's strange . He fought like a Crusader back in Locksely." Robin said.

"Yeah, on the wrong side the looks of him." Will responded.

"Ya know, maybe he switched "sides" or religion because he couldn't live with the things he had to do in battle. It would not be the first case and certainly not the last." Alex added.

"He definitely went out with King Richard." Robin said picking up and examining the cross around his neck. "He's beyond sides now. War has turned his mind."

"Crusader's sickness." Much said realizing.

"A more accurate term is Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. I can't imagine how horrible it is inside his mind." Alex said with her sympathetic face.

"And there'll be thousands more like him lie the war drags on. He needs care." Robin said. He looked at Alex and Much. "Much. You need to look after him. Alex, you look after them both, just for the time being."

"Oh no. Master…" Much pleaded, "Master, please. I mean look at him."

"Well you looked after me of all these years." Robin reasoned.

Alex was about to respond on how she really could not help him since she was not the caring type, but Allan protested before her. "He's a menace! What if he tries to hurt Alex… or Much." He looked over at Alex concerned for her well being. Alex glared at him in return.

"Yes!" Much nodded towards the mischievious outlaw. "You know, I think that's the first time we've actually agreed on something."

"Well it would be my pleasure Robin." Alex interrupted, glaring at Allan. It was infuriating for her that he thought he could decide these things for her. She could handle herself and the Crusader.

"He's been burning down churches and fouling wells." Much said. Allan turned at walked away, but kept a watchful eye on Alex. It was so infuriating to him that she was so stubborn and willful. bin held out his hand for the man to take; the man only looked down at the hand, forcing the cocky outlaw to withdraw in awkwardness. little John shook his head and him and Will left the four.

Much sighed. "Fine. I'll look after him with Alex. Just answer me one question. How are you meant to look after a deranged heretic?" Robin looked at the man, at Much, and Alex, all with uncertainty and cluelessness in their eyes to an individual capacity. Robin sigh, not knowing how to respond.

A mere half hour had passed; the boys, with the exception of Much, were running down a hill at Will and Allan's finding.

"Amazing! You have got to see this wagon, boys. It's completely unique!" Will said with a large grin.

"I'll tell you what, I've never seen a set of wheels like it!" Allan said, acting like a giddy schoolboy. The two friends laughed together in anticipation.

"Independent suspension, reinforced chassis…" Will tariled. The boys reached the sigh of an overturned wagon, that was indeed state of the art, and was made of solid wood. The younger boys began climbing on it and Little John was content with walking around it in a circle. Every began talking at once, excited at the treasure.

"I mean, what is it?' Allan asked.

"It's a fine machine, Robin! Alex's automobiles couldn't even compare." Will said.

"What's that?" Allan asked as Robin began to climb inside.

"Rich owner too." Will took out is axe and made tiny cut in the wood. "'Case this wood… it's not English wood."

Allan was looking inside with Robin now. "This is spectacular." he said.

"Eastern cedar! My dad got a block of it once to make dagger handles with. It's very easy to rout. I'm serious, Robin, cut through knife like butter…" Will trailed off, happy with his finding and excited like he was a young boy again.

Allan crawled on top again and slid into the carriage. "Slide right down." he commented to no one in particular.

"This must have been caught up in the storm two weeks ago. his gully must be a torrent." Robin said.

Allan found apartment inside the carriage and lifted it out. "Hey, looks like some kind of list. Is that directions?"

Robin took and slid down next to Will. "It's the castle, I think." he said.

It was Will's turn to take the parchment. "Looks like the Sheriff's got himself a rich visitor."

Little John was standing behind the wheels and spotted something odd that had fallen out the back. He looked at it and screamed and ran away in terror.

Allan stood up to look at the scared, larger man. "What's up, John?"

Little John pointed at the back of the coach, terrified out of his mind. "There! There!" Robin went over to investigate.

"Eh? Steady up, John. What's got into you?" Allan asked, going over to his friend. Will was heading over to join the two, when a demon (Robin wearing a bizarre mask) jumped out at him. Little John screamed once again, Allan crouched down in fear, and Will desperately tried to get out of harm's way.

"It's no joke, Robin! It's witchcraft!" Allan screamed.

Robin just laughed at them and pulled off the strange mask. "Hardly," he chuckled, "And remember what you and all of us though to Alex? And now you two seem very close…" Allan shoved him in retaliation. Robin continued laughing, turning the mask so it faced himself.

Will took it from him to examine it. It was a black leather helmet that had long pin sticking out of it and had mud caked all over it. "It's a fine piece of work…" Will said. Little John cowered away from it and Allan preformed the sign of the cross and placed his hand on his lips, as if he was receiving the Eucharist. Will pulled a pin in an out of the demonic mask. "… for a nasty mind. Robin…" Will quickly handed it back to the fearless leader.

"The Sheriff's certainly keeping some strange company." Robin commented. Robin put his fingers through the eye holes and wriggled them at his frightened companions.

"Robin! Let it be!" Little John yelled forcefully.

"John, it's only a mask." Suddenly a wind emerged, howling and swirling the outlaws. A large flock of cross emerged, squeaking and screeching at the wind. John and Allan became more terrified. "Oh! Come on! Get a grip." Robin critcized their fear.

The two just stared at their leader, confused as to why he isn't scared.

"You all thought the worst of Alex before we got to know her. And look at her now! I'm sure this mask is the same!" Robin said.

"Ya but, Alex at least is not ugly to look at." Allan said, earning a shove from a Little John. Even when faced with what he thought was the devil's toy, he was protective of Alex and Djaq. "And besides, she's a person. Not" he motioned to the mask, "that."

"Well I suppose we call our new friend Alex then, so you start looking at it like the lovesick fool you are." Robin laughed. Allan scowled.

At the camp, Much and the girls were not making much progress with theirnew friend.

Much stood, leaning over the Crusader. "Right! We're going to try some cooking!"

There was no response.

"Very calming, understand?"

There was no response, except for Alex scoffing at the notion that cooking was calming.

"I'll take that as a yes." Much sat down and in front of him were large, wavy slab of bak that was made a table, and several piles of food was on top of it. Much picked up a knife and pointed at each pile. "Now we have, er, pork, carrots, onions, parsnips. Now, most servants would tell you that this is a stew, but…" Much set a carrot on the cutting board. "Well this I call the Much… Touch…" Much was chopping the carrots and Alex and Djaq rolled her eyes at him. Much continued him lesson, demonstrating as he spoke. "Take the same ingredients, chop them up, skewer them on a broken arrow, cook it over a fire, you're left with something far more interesting." Much held up his concoction to the man and he took it. "Learnt that in Cyprus. There, they, er, call it-"

"Shish kebabi." Much stared at the man, shocked that he was interrupted. Alex got up and left Djaq, sitting down next to Much in awe.

"Then you'll know how delicious they are." Much said in reply, handing the board and the knife to the solider.

"Are you sure it's a good idea to give him a knife?" Djaq asked. Much stops and looked to her and to Alex, realizing that she had a point.

"He does have a name. He's called, er…" He glanced to the man and saw him chopping vegetables. "He's called Harold." Alex and Djaq raised their eyebrows, skeptical. Much replied with a satisfied smile and a nod to the two girls.

"Of all the names on this earth, Harold?!" Alex said. Much nodded in response.

"It's a good, strong, English name." Much told her. He turned back to the newly dubbed Harold. "Maybe this is your true calling. Your new life. I've often thought that a man could make a good living doing this. Get himself a cart wheel it up an alehouse for an evening, set out his wares. Some of these, a bit of stew, meat pies," he chuckled," make a killing."

"Spoiler alert. It is one of the most popular places to order food from now." Alex said. She soon heard the arguing voices of the gang arriving.

"It's true, I'm telling you!" Allan argued, in a passionate, angry voice. Robin called his story rubbish. "It is! And another thing. My cousin definitely saw man turn into a frog. He did! Just outside of Dorchester!"

"I have no idea what you are talking about, but isn't your cousin always drunk? And your family notorious for lying?" Alex said.

"Well, ya, but still.."

"Another mouth for dinner." Robin said. He was still holding the mask and let go of it so he only held it by is straps by Alex and Much, who were sitting by each other. Much jumped up, scared out of his wits, yelling and he ran away a few paces. Alex was unfazed and held it as Robin dangled it by her, examining it with a smile of curiosity. "Not you as well?" Robin sighed at Much and smiled at Alex.

"What is that?" Much gasped.

"Put it this way," Robin took the mask from Alex, "I would not like to be on the receiving end of this."

"Looks like it's for torture." Much said.

"Maybe decorational. Ya know, it looks like something you would find in a funky art museum, or a horror movie prop where a spirit is attached to it and makes the walls bleed and possesses innocent people." Alex said, laughing. She noticed everyone cowering away and added, "That never happens in real life. It's just some mask."

"Whatever it is, that is not Christian." Allan yelled.

"Well I'm hardly Christian, and look at me." Alex said. She grabbed the mask back and started playing with one of the needles.

"Don't do that! You might cause leagues of locusts, rivers of blood! It's fitting we named it Alex!" Allan said.

"You really know how to flatter a girl, Rooster." Alex held the mask to her face and laughed.

"What? Our friends are convinced a master of the dark arts at the castle. Someone form the East to scare us, a bogeyman under our bed. Come on! Look!" Robin took the mask back and held it out for everyone to see. "Its working already!"

The men shied away as Djaq came forward to look at the mask. "Something this grotesque cannot be for good."

Harold saw Djaq holding the mask and his mind snapped. He ran up to the Saracen girl and held a knife to her throat. "Saracen evil!" he shouts.

"Nothing to do with me." Djaq said in a panicked tone.

Robin pulled out his knife, Allan and Alex their swords, and Will his axe. Robin motioned for them all to stay back as he approached the situation.

"Harold!" Much yelled.

"Torturer!" he spat out.

"Calm down. She's one of us." Much said. Behind Harold, Little John held a rock and was ready to strike. "Now listen to me… drop the knife." Before he could think about it, Harold fell down unconscious and Little John was standing behind him without the rock. "What did you do that for?" Much yelled angry.

"Save Djaq." John replied.

Will and Alex bent down to help their friend, who was shocked and holding their neck. They asked her if she was alright and she could only nod.

"He trusted me! He was gonna drop the knife " Much yelled back.

Little John scoffed.

"You see," Robin held up the mask, "That's how it works. Fear."

Harold was tied up against and tree and remained unconscious for awhile. He was surrounded by a makeshift cage of sticks and his hands were bound. Djaq, Allan, and Alex step down hill, waiting for their leader. bin approached the distressed Little John.

"Come on, John! We're off to drag the wagon out of the mud." Robin said to John's back. He was painting something on a tree.

"No!" he shouted.

Robin walked closer to him and said gently, "We need something strong to keep Haroldin when he has turns." John turned around at this comment. "The wagon's perfect."

"I stay here." Little John replied curtly. He sat down the base of the tree, holding a bowl, and he revealed a white across that he had drawn. "Protected"

Alex rolled her eyes and mumbled something along the lines of, "Superstitious medievals." that earned a glance from Allan, who was one of the more superstitious gang members, but not the most. After all, he was in love with an accused witch.

"You're not serious? The biggest man in Sherwood, jumping at shadows?" Robin said exasperated at his gang's strong ignorance and fear.

Little John stood up. "Not the shadows!" He pointed at the mask, now hanging form a tree. "The devil!"

Robin rolled his eyes at the older man. Alex did as well. "Ya know, you said the same about me. Don't be that way to Alex 2." She lightly hit the mask, causing it to swing. John cringed at the sight of it eerily rocking from side to side.

Robin approached Will, the young carpenter who was finishing the last touches on Harold's cage. "Will?" he said. Will stepped forward in response. Robin whispered, "Go into Nottingham. Find out who's really at the castle. We have to help Little John." Will nodded and left after turning to look at the large, scared man.

Robin took Alex to go and meet Marian. They had hid in the barn and approached the young noble as she was grooming her new horse.

"Don't tell me the Nightwatchman's in dipping into the profits!" Robin said. emerging from the shadows, with Alex following him behind. Robin had brought her because she was good at reason and debate and was the only one that could defeat Marian in a stubborn off. But Alex and Marian were hardly friends and they did not like to see each other. Robin could not understand that despite their similarities, they could not get along. Alex leaned against one of the barrels, examine her nails and ignoring the young, dark haired woman.

"Some men take pleasure in giving women gifts." Marian said, happy to toy with her ex fiance.

"That's a lot of gift." Alex said, looking up briefly and raising her eyebrows.

"And tell me, was it a lot of pleasure?" Robin said on perfect queue. Marian scoffed. "And however you thinking of reciprocating?"

"Maybe you'd find outfit you gave me a gift. As it is… you and your friends only come out of the woodwork to ask me for favors. So?" It was Marain's turn to raise an eyebrow.

"Do you and your rich nobles have any strange guests at the castle?" Alex said, standing up and walking out into the open, holding Alex 2. Marian took it, appalled. "The owner of this beauty was on their way here, but we found their wagon turned over in the woods. Most likely not from Europe."

"You've been eating too many mushrooms and casting too many spells in the forest." again said. Alex clenched her fists, but Robin gave her a look that made her stand down. 'Why do they hate each other?!' Robin wondered.

"My men have been thinking the Sheriff has been using a sorcerer." Robin said.

"And despite what you believe about me, magic is not really the best or logical theory to have." Alex commented bitterly.

"Well, they've been eating too many mushrooms… and possibly casting spells." Marian said, holding the mask back out for Alex to take. She ripped it out of the noble woman's hand, protective of it now.

Robin was flustered that she thought this was simply a joke and most of her efforts have been to make Alex react. "Agreed! But if you can tell me who it is, can I reassure my men." Robin said in a quieter voice, "John will not even leave the forest."

Marian's attention was focused on the horse. "Hm. Another one who only coms out of the woodwork when he has too."

Robin turned away at frustration and the two girls stared down at each other briefly. Marian took a serious tone and said, "I'll see what I can do." Robin nodded and Alex glared at her, and turned around without any sign of gratitude.

The two walked back in silence to the camp; Alex was swinging Alex 2 like a handbag in a department store ad. She thought about the events of today and all the mentions of witchcraft. She began to feel insecure in her position in the gang. She could not imagine what they thought of her before they welcomed her. Allan probably even thought she was the devil's spawn. Robin noticed her internal struggle and stopped her.

"What's wrong?" he asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Nothing! I am just thinking of where I should hang my friend. I'm thinking over my bed. Like a reverse dream catcher; it sends out nightmares." Alex smirked examining Alex 2.

"What's really going on?"

Alex rolled her eyes and sighed, debating telling Robin. But he was so wise and just and he was the only one that did no judge her from the beginning, or her friend Alex 2. "It's called Alex 2." She lifted up the mask, so it was eye level with him. "Does the gang even want me here? They no I am no witch, but I am a complete outsider. I don't know how to ride a horse or go to Church or can make a fire. Ya know, I just don't know if I really belong here. Sure I get along with everyone now, but every one thought I was a monster at out first meeting and first impressions last forever. John probably cursed my name and prayed for my death. Allan probably told everyone in Nottingham how he once met a witch. I can't believe we almost kis- we are friends." Alex caught herself to late and looked at him with large eyes and a fake smile holding Alex 2 at her chest. Robin just smirked at her.

"Everyone wants you here and you do belong. You have become a better swordsman than most man I have met in my life. You may not know about some things, but you know about a lot others and you have definitely helped us. No one thought that ill of you and John thinks of you as his own. You could never be evil. All of this fear is just ridiculous. The mask is even affecting you!" Robin said with large, controlled hand motions. "And Allan never thought of you as a witch. These men are just not as world as you. You know more than even me!" he smirked at her. Alex punched his arm and began walking again.

"Of course I am smarter than you! It's not even a debate!"

Robin smiled, happy to see most of the insecurities drain from Alex. But she was a paranoid person that was careful with placing her trust. She would never really be at ease here. She would have to give up her other life entirely to be a full member. She wouldn't do that unless it was for a good reason. 'Maybe love, or well ,really Allan.' Robin thought. "So what was this about a kiss?" He smirked, walking next to his friend.

"No kiss at all. I think Alex 2 is messing with your head." Alex smirked and walked ahead of him.

"I was sure you said kiss."

"Well if I did, then you owe me for not really trying to rescue me with the Guyliner-tattoo debacle. So I will hypothetically use that card if a kiss was mentioned."

"You're right. No kiss. I would save that favor for a rainier day." Robin looked at her with a smirk and Alex smiled at him in response.

Marian watched the two retreating figures talk and laugh, with the mask hanging by Alex's side. Marian was jealous, though she could never admit it, especially to herself, of Robin ad Alex's closeness; and besides, overall Alex was stubborn girl that took everything as a joke and never did any real work. While Marian had to bat her eyelashes and look pretty in hopes of getting a sliver of information and then spend nights riding and handing out food in disguise, Alex just did whatever she pleased.

Marian mounted her horse and rode it towards the castle. On the way she stopped by an apple orchard and plucked a few of the native fruits. It took hardly any time to reach he castle and enter it. She came so often she was used to the drill by now.

She walked along a dark corridor, cradling the basket of apples to herself and she could make out the voice of her husband to be, despite him speaking quietly.

"No one goes in, no one comes out. If anyone asks, I want to know." Guy said. He noticed Marian approaching and he jerked his head, indicating to his guards he wants privacy. They left in a hurry, glad to be away from the easily angered man.

"Ah, Marian." He looked down at the apples and smiled, "How thoughtful."

"Actually, I heard there was a guest saying in the castle and I thought he might enjoy some local fruit." she said, smiling sweetly.

"Oh…" Gisbourne quickly thought of an excuse. "No. He doesn't like this kind of food.

"He sounds intriguing." Marian said, looking past the leather clad man and towards the guest's door.

"I'm afraid you really can't be here, Marian." Guy took a bite from an apple with a large crunch. "Orders."

"Orders. Orders." She sighed. "May I remind you, Guy, we are engaged. ou subjecting me to orders, however impressive your gifts, is rather inappropriate." Marian stole the apple back from Gisbourne and left. He chuckled in response, walking the other direction. Marian looked back to see if the path was clear as she set her basket down. She took a torch from the wall and headed back towards the forbidden door. There she opened it slightly. inside she could hear an Eastern man praying and she saw two guards by the door speaking. Marian frowned and closed the door.

It was the next day and Will was running into the outlaw camp, to warn of some impending danger. So it was a usual day.

"Stranger on the move! Out of the castle!" he yelled, running into the outlaw's camp.

"What kind of stranger/" Robin asked, running up to Will.

"Saracen." Will said, looking at Djaq.

"There's our friend!" Alex smiled.

"Oh, we could be attacked by spirit any moment!" Robin said, sternly at the inevitable superstitious based protests.

"He rode out at dawn with Gisbourne and his troops." Will stated.

"Which way was he heading?' Djaq asked.

"This way, into the forest." Will replied.

"Well, we've got to smash the prettier Alex. It could draw him towards us." Allan said pointing towards the mask. Despite his serious tone, he had a hint of his jokester smirk that earned a playful scowl from Alex.

"Ya know, I have never heard a stupider idea." she replied.

"Nothing is going to draw anybody anywhere! Now, let's go and see who he is, shall we?" Robin said crossly. Alex stood over to him, after picking up her sword. Allan shook his head, earning an eye roll from Alex. Robin looked to the fearful Little John. "Come on, John! Come and face your fear!" Little John just continued cowering by his "protected tree". Robin approached him and said gently, "It's okay, John." He just glared in response and Robin scoffed in frustration.

"We are taking on the forces of darkness and we'll be alright?!" Allan yelled.

"Ya know, I would enjoy that. Adds a bit more drama to the story I get to tell when I get back home and out of the dark ages of ridiculous belief." Alex said bitterly. Her insecurities were creeping up again, and despite her closeness with Allan, she felt that he still thought of her as a witch in the back of his mind. She longed for her home and couldn't help mention it; she would never tell this story though beacause her people were the opposite. No magic of any kind could happen, especially falling through time and meeting legends of old. Allan was taken off guard by her comment of going home. He knew that she would leave him and the gang because she had no reason to stay, especially him, but tried to push that thought away and would forget that she was an outsider. She was just any other female outlaw to him, but she held his heart. He glared at her and Robin and turned away from her and the gang in anger.

"Yes! It's a Saracen man! Now, listen to me. This is what we are going to do." Robin said.

Malik, Gisbourne, and the guards rode through the forest at a gallop due to the Saracen's instance and eagerness of finding the inherited carriage. They found the wagon and the Saracen noble dismounted and climbed atop his wrecked property.

"There she is! Come, let us see how badly she is damaged." the Saracen said.

"That wagon's not going anywhere." Gisbourne said. crossing his arms as if he was a moody teenager.

Malik ignored him from on top of the carriage and laughed, "She is still in one piece! That's good Saracen craftsmanship! Hah-ha!"

Malik suddenly disappeared from the side of the wagon and a storm of arrows were being shot towards Gisbourne and his men. The quickly ducked and moved out go harm's way. Behind the wagon where Gisbourne could not see, Robin held a knife to Malik's throat.

"Now, we can do this my way or you can turn me into a frog" Robin said.

"What?" the Saracen asked confused.

"My way, then." Robin said. He lead the Saracen away as Gisbourne and his men hid behind trees, trying to avoid the arrows. Guy tried to peel out once, but two arrows by his head prevented him. The arrows stop suddenly and after a moment, Gisbourne peeks out and then ran towards the bottom of the wagon where his hostage had been kidnapped, sword in hand. He realized the Saracen noble was gone and taken by Robin Hood. He screamed in anger, hitting the already abused wagon with his sword. Hidden in the woods, Alex blows a kiss at Guyliner with Allan and Will beside her laughing and they ran off.

Back at the camp, Much had successfully administered the sedative Djaq created to Harold, and the Crusader was safely sleeping. The members of the gang that had helped kidnap Malik arrive. Robin threw Malik at Little John's feet, startling the large man.

"So… tell me John," Robin said, tossing his bow down as the large man and the Saracen stood. "What is so powerful about him, hm?"

Djaq stood, looking in shock at the man and spoke in Arabic, falling to her knees. The Saracen replied to her in angry Arabic and she replied. Everyone looked at her confused, but Alex understood and smiled.

"At least one of you knows how to show respect." Malik said to Robin.

Djaq ran up to Robin. "What are you doing?!" she asked confused.

"What are you doing?!" he replied in the smilier fashion of a bickering child.

"This man is Prince Malik al-Ayyubi ibn Shadi!" she explained like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Alex smiled at the others ignorance. "Nephew of Saladin! I served under him."

"The Saladin?" Much asked amazed. Djaq nodded proudly.

"Oops." Allan said, looking at Alex.

"I apologize, my Prince. You know how the English are. Inferior, supersitious, and ignorant." Alex bowed at him. "For the record, I am from very, very far away." Allan rolled his eyes at this comment.

"He is royalty." Djaq said, tapping Robin's arm. "Bow down to him." Djaq kneeled once again, bowing her head and dragged Alex down with her.

"Nobody bows down to anybody!" Robin yanked the two girls to their feet. "Not in this forest. John?"

"Ya know, you would not be saying that if it was Richy Richard, Robin." Alex commented, earning an appreciative look from the prince. Everyone else ignored the comment, especially Allan who was angry with Alex for mentioning her home. 'Are we not her home now?' he thought.

"Mm." was Little John's reply. Robin and him had an immediate understanding and held the prince by both arms and dragged them over to the mask, Alex 2, hanging by a tree branch.

"Come and say hello to…" Robin said.

"You, I do not like." Little John said. Djaq's protest could be heard in the background.

"My friends would like to know about this mask." Robin explained harshly.

"What have you done to it?!" Malik shouted. "I cannot present it now!" Robin let go of the prince as he said this.

"That's a gift?" Much asked, incredulous.

"It was." The prince glared at Robin. "A peace offering."

"Peace. Let's stick needles in his head, see how he likes it" Allan joked.

"And this is what happens when cousins marry." Malik pointed at the mask. "This is a model for teaching. Needles placed correctly on parts of the body can cure all sorts of ailments."

"Acupuncture!" Alex shouted. "I knew Alex 2 looked familiar." Malik looked at her confused. "Yes they named it after me because I have some bad association with dark magic as well that is false. But ya, it's acupuncture. I didn't realize because it's Chinese in origin, but it makes sense the Muslims have the knowledge because of trading and their advance sciences and medicine."

"You are very well educated. How are you stuck with these barbarians?" the prince asked, taking more liking to the English, but not English girl.

"It was an odd journey." Alex replied with a smirk of satisfaction.

Allan scoffed, angry at Malik's curiosity of his girl. "Still sounds like dodgy magic to me."

"This is science, not magic." Malik explained. Alex nodded in agreement.

"What, so… you're a physician then?" Will asked.

"You see, John? A physician. That's all." Robin said gently. John just walked away, refusing to believe Robin or the Saracen.

"I'm not a physician. I'm an ambassador. This gift for Prince John is a gift of healing… to celebrate our new peace treaty."

"Prince John wants peace?!" Robin said in disbelief.

"Ya know, I don't think that's true on any levels. He's kind of famous for his greed and when the lion's away, the fox plays, ya know." Alex commented.

"I want peace. The Holy Lands are drenched in blood Thousands of men die on both sides." Malik replied. Robin nods. "This is not the will of Allah. It is the duty of all good men to put an end to this barbarity. So I come to negotiate with Prince John and the Sheriff."

"If you really want peace in the Holy Land, then the Sheriff and Prince John are the last people you should be speaking to. Whatever they have told you is a lie." Robin replied.

"And how can I believe what you say? You and your band of" Malik glared at the gang, "superstitious, ignorant outlaws."

All of the outlaws stepped forward except Djaq that remained still and Alex that just nodded in agreement. Robin glared at Malik.

"I'm not bein' funny, mate. We've only just caught you." Allan laughed.

"Let me go." Malik said, keeping eye contact with Robin. "Or let the blood of thousands be on your conscious." Robin stared back, thinking. In the end, Malik was released.