"I don't think this will work," said Djaq honestly as they walked through the forest towards Nottingham the next day.

"I agree, it hasn't got a chance," said Much. "I'm sorry, Robin."

"It's sure to fail, Robin," said Allan.

"It's mad," said Little John, nodding his head.

Will was the only one who said nothing, but watched.

Robin turned around with a faint grin. "Glad we're all agreed. Let's go."

"You're ridiculous, did anyone ever tell you that?" asked Djaq, hurrying up.

"Frequently," Robin called back.

"Mostly Marian," snorted Allan. "And I agree wi' her."

"It doesn't seem to have affected you much though, does it?" asked Much of Robin.

"Nope," he answered without a look behind. This was how the entire walk through the forest sounded, and by the time they reached the outskirts of Nottingham, Robin had the distinct feeling that they all thought he was crazy. Finally, he turned around and looked at Will, the only one who hadn't spoken. "Well?" he asked, hands on hips.

Will looked taken aback. "Well what?"

"What do you think about the plan? You're the only one who hasn't voted against it," said Robin, watching the younger man's face.

"Saffia hasn't," chimed Allan, earning himself several dark looks from the rest of the gang.

"Well, Will?" Robin repeated.

"I think…" Will glanced down at the baby in his arms, then shrugged. "Anything to get her back to her parents," he said.

"Good. Then let's go," said Robin. Pulling up their hoods, they marched into Nottingham, hoods up.

After they had slipped in, Will walked over to Robin. "Robin, you were joking about all that King Solomon stuff before, weren't you?" he asked in a low voice.

Robin grinned. "Of course!"

"Then what are we really going to do?"

Robin bit his lip and looked at Will. "I don't know. Look for the parents – anything. I think we'll need Marian's help for this one." He glanced at the baby, then at Will. "I'll go get Allan – he'll go to Marian and tell her we're here and we'll be here all day if necessary. But stay out of trouble. Got it?"

"Got it," said Will, backing into the shadows. Robin turned and ducked away.

"Allan, what are you doing here?" asked Marian, surprised to see the outlaw outside her window.

"Uh… we have a problem," he said, "and Robin thought you could 'elp."

"What… kind of problem?" Marian leaned forward to catch every word.

"Well, we're all in Nottingham tryin' to find the baby's parents, and… well, we're stuck. But we can't just take care of it!"

"I know," sighed Marian. "The forest is no place for a child."

"Roit! My point exactly!" said Allan with a conniving grin.

"So you have to find the right parents for it?" asked Marian, biting her lip.

"Yeh," said Allan. "Nobody wants another mouth to feed in times like this, so we've gotta make sure we get the right parent, you know what I'm sayin'?"

"I know," said Marian. "I'll ride into Nottingham and see what I can do. Tell Robin to keep an eye out for me."

"Got it," said Allan, and dropping from the window ledge, he raced back for Nottingham as fast as he could make his legs go.

Allan walked quickly through the crowded, busy streets of Nottingham looking for Robin when someone grabbed his arm and hauled him into an alley. "Well?" demanded Robin.

"She's comin,'" said Allan, "she sez to keep a lookout for her."

Robin let out a sigh of relief. "Good."

"I don't see what's so important about a baby in the first place," said Allan. "Roy had it right when he said we were outlaws, not wet-nurses."

"Yes, well even Roy repented of saying that," said Robin, squinting. "What time did Marian say she would be here?"

"She was ridin' out directly after me," said Allan.

"Good," said Robin. "She'll be here any minute then."

Marian rode in, looking for any of the outlaws. She saw Much first, pretending to be nosing over a pile of cloth when really he was looking for her. She rode her horse past him, hissing "Psst!" as she did so.

Much did not seem to notice who she was, because he turned around with an annoyed look. "Imagine someone hissing at me!" he sniffed. "THAT is just rude!" and turned back around.

Marian growled and dismounted, leaving her horse to be tended by a Nottingham guard.

"I'll take him to the castle, my lady," the man said, and Marian nodded and smiled. "Yes, thank you."

She walked through the streets, deciding Much was a lost cause. She nearly screamed as a hand went over her mouth and she was pulled behind the corner of a building. She whirled around, a dagger out, then sighed with relief. "Oh, Will."

"I thought Robin was going to talk to you," he said, looking confused.

"He WAS, if I can ever find him," she said, rolling her eyes. She reached out and took the baby from Will, who proceeded to move forward and look around the edge of the wooden building.

"Will," said Marian suddenly, making the young outlaw turn around, "did this baby have anything with it when you rescued it?"

"Not that I know of," said Will, walking back over. "Why?"

"Because I think this baby doesn't have any parents," said Marian, her face suddenly turning white.

"What's wrong?" asked Will, stepping forward with a concerned look.

Marian did not answer. "We must find Robin," she said.

They found Robin within ten minutes, and he was looking for Marian as well.

"Where have you been?" he demanded, turning and looking at Marian.

"Looking for you. Robin, first I must tell you that you will not find this child's parents."

"Why not?" asked Robin and Will at the same time.

"They died of the plague," said Marian.

"What plague?" asked Robin, his eyebrows shooting up.

"A week ago, one house on the street was quarantined," Marian explained. "Because it looked like the plague was there. Everyone died, or so we thought. I think that when they were taking the bodies out in a cart, the baby fell out onto the road!"

Will scratched his head and looked at Robin with a surprised shrug. "It makes sense," he said.

"How did you know all this, Marian?" asked Robin, peering into her face.

"Guy told me, who else?" asked Marian.

"So you're tellin' me that we've been takin' care of the plague for this long?" asked Allan in disbelief, from where he had appeared behind them.

"It would seem so," said Marian with a look that was a little shocked herself.

Allan couldn't believe it. "Well, Will, if we all die, it's thanks to you, remember that!"

"It's not Will's fault, he couldn't have known," said Marian defensively.

"But what are we s'posed to do wi' it now?" asked Allan, looking at the infant with distaste.

"It's not an 'it'," Will reminded him.

"So-rry," said Allan with a grin. Then he said to Marian in a loud whisper "Never call a baby 'it,' the mother'll get testy."

Will did not look too offended, but Robin glared at Allan. "Will saved this baby's life, so stop teasing him."

"All right, all right," said Allan, raising his arms.

"Robin, go gather the others," said Marian. "I think I know someone who will take this child."

Another ten minutes later and the outlaws were all gathered in a knot, after Marian explained everything to them. "Now," she said, "I know a family who would take the child."

"You do?" asked Robin, surprised.

"Yes, I do," said Marian. "They just lost a little one of their own and are heartbroken. Not many people would be willing to take in another mouth to feed, but these people would. And will."

"So… what do we do?" asked Robin. "We don't know them – could you do it for us?"

Marian looked annoyed, but said slowly "I suppose." She looked at Will, who was holding Saffia. He looked down at it, then handed it carefully to Marian. "Don't forget," he said. "Her name."

"Saffia Wren, remember that, now," said Allan, looking earnestly at Marian.

Marian smiled. "I will. She'll be well taken care of, Robin. Will, I'll see that the family has money enough to feed her."

"What family is it?" asked Robin curiously.

"Ah-ah," said Marian with an impish grin, "I can't tell you."

"Why not!?" cried Robin.

"Because then you might be foolish and try and visit her," said Marian, striding away.

As they were nearing the border of Sherwood, having left Nottingham, Marian came riding up. "I said you might be foolish to try and visit the child," she said. Then she smiled. "And if any harm came to Saffia Wren Knighton, I don't think the parents would be very happy."

Everyone gaped at her. "Knighton!?"

Marian looked innocently at them, and Robin said "But you said the parents had lost a child!"

"I lied," said Marian, with a sweet smile. She clucked to her horse and galloped away before they could say anything.

"She'll be well-taken care of, that's certain," said Little John. "She, I like."

Will watched Marian disappear with a smile on his face. "Yeah," he said. "I'm glad."

THE END