Chapter 1

It started out a day just like any other day in Sherwood. Will and Djaq were fletching arrows, Much was plucking the feathers from a duck he was preparing for supper, and John was taking inventory of the goods they had for their planned drop offs for the next day. Robin had snuck off to meet with Marian in Nottingham to check in with her and ask if she had learned of any new plots from Guy or the sheriff or any fresh betrayals from Allan since he'd seen her last. It was just an ordinary day like any other. No one expected the announcement Robin would make when he returned to camp that day.

A few pairs of eyes turned to look up at Robin as he strolled silently into the camp. His usual cheeky grin was missing and there was righteous fury brewing behind his cold blue eyes.

"Back already?" Much asked nonchalantly. "Wasn't expecting you until nearly supper time."

"Does Marian have any news?" Will added.

Robin didn't answer. He wouldn't even look at them. He never took his gaze off of the one outlaw who hadn't even bothered to look up yet.

"Robin?" John asked, noticing something was wrong.

"Yeah," Robin started. A few members of the gang noticed where his eyes were pointing and turned to follow his gaze. "She had news." Djaq finally looked up at him.

"What news?" She asked.

"Turns out…" Robin began as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, "We have another traitor in our midst."

The night before…

Marian knew that the sheriff was holding a private meeting with Guy in the castle and as much as she'd tried to charm him to pry for information, her leather-clad admirer remained tight-lipped about whatever their plans were. "It's official business, Marian." He'd explained to her that afternoon, "I cannot speak of it. Sheriff's orders."

She'd been disappointed, of course, but she wouldn't let his secrecy prevent her from discovering the truth about any plots that may be of interest to Robin and his gang. She knew she still had two available courses of action she could take. The first option she tried, simply sneaking through the castle and listening in, proved to be unsuccessful. The sheriff had guards posted outside the door and though she tried to come up with a believable excuse for why she had to speak with Guy immediately, they were unwavering in following their orders and would not let her pass.

"Very well," she sighed dramatically. "Perhaps I could speak with Sir Guy's man then. He might be able to assist me instead." Marian told the guard, realizing she would have to rely on her backup plan of asking Allan if he knew anything. "Is he attending the meeting as well?"

"No, my lady, it's just Sir Guy and the sheriff in there."

"I will go search for him then, thank you." Marian replied graciously as she turned to walk away.

"Shouldn't you have an escort, my lady?" The guard asked. "One of us can take you to find him."

Marian rolled her eyes before plastering a fake smile on her face as she turned back to address him.

"That won't be necessary. My restrictions have been relaxed since my return from the abbey and I can assure you, I know my way around the castle quite well."

"Very well, then. Good evening, my lady."

"Yes, good night." Marian replied as she walked away from them.

She made her way through the corridors quickly and quietly until she arrived at the room where she knew Allan liked to hide away to nap when he wasn't busy, but she stopped herself before swinging the door open. She could hear voices coming from inside. One was clearly Allan's, she'd recognize it anywhere, but the other belonged to a woman. It was muffled through the door and she couldn't make out anything that was said, but she distinctly heard a woman's laugh.

Probably some kitchen girl he's managed to charm into bed, she thought as she sighed with frustration. That was the last thing she wanted to walk in on and she didn't need a jealous kitchen girl or maid spreading any rumors about her going to seek Allan out either. Marian was about to turn away and return later when Allan was a bit less preoccupied, until she heard him moan a name that made her stop in her tracks.

"Oh, Djaq…" Allan moaned from behind the door. "Don't stop, don't stop, oh...uhhh…"

This cannot be...Marian thought, horrified. She turned back and slowly and carefully pushed the door open ever so slightly. Just a crack, just enough to sneak a peek inside. What she saw left her in shock. Allan was sitting at the edge of a bench, leaning back and propped up on his elbows, with a woman kneeling on the floor between his legs, sitting back on her own ankles.

Marian couldn't see her face very well from this angle, but she didn't need to, as there was no doubt of who the woman was before her. She had dark brown hair so short that it didn't even extend beyond the nape of her neck, a familiar looking purple shirt with a short, forest green bodice, dark gray trousers, she was of a short stature, and Marian could tell from her hands and the part of her face that she could see that the woman had deep brown skin.

It really is Djaq, she thought. And she was just...Marian took in the scene with disgust. Unmarried noblewomen weren't supposed to know about the things that Djaq was just doing to Allan, but she'd overheard enough conversations to understand exactly what sort of sordid act she'd almost witnessed. That is just...she felt a bit nauseated even thinking about it. She froze in her spot, knowing she shouldn't look anymore, but finding herself unable to turn away from the sight.

What do I do now? She wondered. She weighed her options. She could pretend that she saw nothing and just walk away. She'd already known for over a year that Allan had harbored some sort of romantic feelings or attraction for Djaq, as she still remembered the awkward double confession she was present for in the forest quite clearly. She knew that Djaq had defended him quite vigorously since his betrayal came to light, holding out hope that he was still a good man, and she had to admit herself that he wasn't quite as far gone as Robin seemed to believe he was. Perhaps a relationship of sorts had developed between them before he'd left the gang and Marian could understand quite well how things of that nature could become complicated. She couldn't say she approved of what Djaq was doing, but she found it hard to judge her harshly for it nonetheless. Perhaps she should just say nothing.

Doubt dwelled within her. She knew she couldn't simply face the two of them and hide what she knew. Best case scenario, it was dangerous and put Djaq in danger of getting caught, but there was no betrayal happening. Worst case scenario, Djaq may be, intentionally or unintentionally, revealing classified information to Allan that could put the whole gang at risk. She couldn't simply ignore that, yet she feared what Robin would do if he knew. She was certain he would overreact and didn't want to run to him with the information unless absolutely necessary.

No, she thought. I'll just have to confront them myself. She debated with herself whether she should wait to talk to them alone or if she should simply enter the room now and get it over with, awkward as that would be. She had decided it best to get it out of the way and was about to knock when Allan, who had finally caught his breath and fastened his trousers, started talking to Djaq.

"Look, I know this might be an odd question, but I've just gotta ask…" Allan trailed off sheepishly. "Who's bigger? Me or Giz? Just curious."

Marian felt her heart skip a beat as she stumbled back from the door in horror. Me or Giz? That means that she...that she...she couldn't have. She just couldn't have! She felt like she'd been slapped. The shock of that revelation was too much to handle. No, I must've misunderstood or misheard. That cannot be. She creeped up to the door again and listened in once more just in time to hear Allan laugh.

"I'm not bein' funny, but...I bet you say that to all the lads. Probably told half the guards in the castle that they're the biggest you'd ever seen. That's how you keep 'em coming back for more o' their money, am I right?"

Marian thought she might vomit. Allan, Guy, half the guards in the castle? Their money? She peered into the room in time to see Djaq, who didn't even try to deny Allan's claim, rise to her feet as she leaned forward to quiet Allan's doubts about his size with a kiss.

This is more than just being unable to break things off with Allan. This is...if she's sneaking off to sleep with Guy and half the guards in the castle for money, what else is she willing to sell for money? Robin's secrets? My secret? Why would Guy knowingly let her into the castle without arresting her unless she was working for him too? I have to tell Robin! She ran off back to her room, no longer even remembering why she had sought out Allan in the first place.