Thank you again so much for reading and reviewing. I can't believe that anyone actually wants to read my crazy ramblings, but I'm so grateful that you do! And you are so brilliant and encouraging. Thank you!

I've got the outlines of at least 10 chapters so far, but I seem to write in a random order as I get inspired by different things, then slowly try to construct the parts into a coherent story. So, please bear with me if there are gaps between postings. I am writing, I might just be writing 4 chapters ahead of where I should be right now!

**DISCLAIMER **
I own none of the characters from the film, I have merely borrowed them for a time.

The sheriff leered, his sword hovering above his neck. Robin closed his eyes. It was over. He'd failed them all - Marian, the woodsmen, Will. His heart constricted as he thought of Will: his brother that he only just found and would now never truly get to know. Marian shrieked and he looked towards her. He wanted her to be the last thing that he saw as he left this life.

Suddenly, the sheriff screamed and the sword clattered to the ground. Marian's eyes were wide, staring at a space over Robin's shoulder. His gaze whipped from her to the dagger protruding gruesomely from Nottingham's wrist to Will Scarlett, crouched low with his arm outstretched and a murderous look on his face.

"You," hissed the sheriff. "YOU! You might have wormed your way back into Hood's band, but you will never betray me and live! I'll have you gutted! I'll burn you alive! I'll kill you and every person you ever laid eyes on! I'll wipe you peasants from the face of the earth!"

Will was shaking slightly, but he pushed himself upright to stand straight in the face of the sheriff's wrath. His gaze didn't falter as he looked him directly in the eye.

"You can try," he acknowledged. "But you are one man. You may have an army, but we are a family. We'll see who has the strength to fight the longest for what they believe in. I can promise you; it won't be you."

Robin stared at his brother in awe. He'd barely heard him say more than a handful of words the whole time they'd lived together in Sherwood. The only time Will had said more was when he'd stumbled back into the camp and spilled his guts and the sheriff's plans to Robin and the others.

It seemed Will Scarlett saved his words for when they counted the most.

Will's eyes flicked briefly to Robin and then back to the sheriff. The astonishment and pride the elder brother felt must have been painted on his face as the younger Locksley's mouth twitched upwards slightly at the side, his cheeks coloured and Robin thought he stood a little taller. So many of the merry men saw Will as a coward, but Robin saw the truth in that moment. Will acted the part, encouraged the lie, because a good deal of his advantage in many situations lay with the fact that he was often so sorely underestimated. He wished those that doubted his brother could have seen him facing down the sheriff in that chapel. He was fearless.

The moment shattered as, suddenly, Nottingham guards began to pour through the door at the rear of the chapel. Before they would have time to fully take in the situation in front of them, Azeem grasped Marian by the arm, Robin hauled his brother after him and the four of them tumbled through the door on their side of the room.

Robin dragged Will through the opening and Azeem slammed the door shut, quickly dropping the crossbar into place to secure it. The older Locksley had to suppress a grin as the younger muttered sulkily, "That was my best dagger!" before sagging against him. He could see that the only thing stopping his brother from collapsing to the floor completely was sheer force of will and Robin's arm around his waist. He had nothing left.

He suddenly noticed the streaks of blood and dirt that covered Will from head to toe. Fortunately, little of the blood seemed to be his. The battle below must have been intense. How Will had found a chance to come to his aid, he didn't know. But he was incredibly grateful that he had. Without his little brother, he would be dead.

The banging on the door behind them intensified. Without waiting for protest, Robin slung Will's left arm across his own shoulders and looped his right arm tightly around the younger man's waist. The archer glanced to his left.

"Marian, can you run?" His lady raised an eyebrow, quickly taking the knife from Will's belt and attacking her skirt. After a few brief seconds, she looked up at his with a grin. Her dress was a good few inches shorter, exposing her ankles, and she'd slashed a slit up the side of her outer skirts to allow for more movement. Even with her petticoats beneath to protect her dignity, it made him blush.

"Now I can!" she replied. Robin forced his eyes away from the scandalous sight as she handed him the dagger.

"Let's get out of here!" They hurtled down the winding stairs of the tower as fast as they could dare to without ending up a bloody, mangled mess at the bottom.

Azeem made quick work of the few soldiers that made it to the bottom of the stairwell before them and then they were out into the open air, reuniting with the rest of the merry men. The rag-tag group seemed to have driven the soldiers back into the keep, but Robin knew that reinforcements wouldn't be far behind. It was time it get moving.

As Robin began to shout orders to the men, Azeem gently eased Will away from his brother, bracing his arm over his own shoulders to keep him standing upright. Robin smiled gratefully at his friend.

Marian was looking at Will with a mix of distrust and amazement. Robin realised with a jolt that she knew nothing of what had passed between them since his release from the dungeons. To her, his little brother was the sullen, spiteful outlaw who had tried to kill Robin when his back was turned, had betrayed his fellows to save his own skin. But then he had inexplicably materialised at exactly the moment needed to save her lover's life. And that little speech he had given the sheriff. What to make of that? It must appear to her as if Will Scarlett was two entirely separate people. Robin smiled reassuringly at her. They didn't have time for explanations. Later, he promised himself.

Marian was free, but so was the sheriff. Robin cursed. They'd missed their chance. Now they needed to flee.