September 8th 1192

"I have some interesting news," Robin announced, coming into the center of camp in the middle of an unusually brisk Fall morning, Much at his heels. "Care to guess?" The gang roused sleepily from their blankets.

"The King is coming back to England?" Will asked, poking his head up.

"You discovered some information about the Prince's Wizard?" Ginny asked eagerly, making her way towards the center of camp.

"The Sherriff fell down his privy into a giant pile of dung?" John asked dryly, causing Djaq to cover her mouth in laughter.

"You've found a large purse of money in the forest that you've finally decided to spend on us?" Allan asked hopefully, stretching. "What?!" he demanded as the others turned to look at him.

Robin shook his head with a smile. "No, no, unfortunately no, and definitely not. Much better."

"Better than a large purse of gold? Not likely," Allan said, stifling a yawn.

"I don't think any news can top the Sherriff falling into a giant pile of dung," Djaq smiled at Allan.

Allan grinned back at her. "I was enjoying picturing that one too," he agreed. "The thought kind of brightens up the mood, eh?"

"Ahem," Robin said. "If you're all finished?" They all looked up at him expectantly, and he smiled down at them. "Gisborne's having a party. And you know what that means, don't you?"

"Party guests," John said.

"Rich party guests," Allan added happily. "What's the occasion?"

Robin grimaced. "The King's birthday, if you can believe the gall. And in my own house, of all places, according to Much. So let's find out a few more details. Djaq and Allan, that's your job. Go to Locksley this morning and see what you can find out." Djaq and Allan both nodded.

"What about the rest of us?" Will asked.

"We'll need some supplies to prepare," Robin said. "Weapons, clothes…"

"And we really should bring a gift. I mean, if it's a birthday party, it's only polite," Allan said, his eyes twinkling. "We all know that Gisborne will be keeping the gifts for himself anyway. I vote that Red be in charge. After all, Gisborne deserves the very best, and we all know what a knack she has for picking out good presents. I'm sure she can find a nice twig or cow patty around here somewhere to wrap up with a pretty green bow."

"Aren't you ever going to let that go?" Ginny asked, shaking her head.

"Doubt it," Allan said cheerfully. "C'mon Djaq, let's get to it."

A few short hours later saw Ginny, clad in a simple brown dress with her bright hair carefully tucked under a brown turban, sneaking into the Locksley manor with the help of Mary, head of the Locksley servants.

"Keep an eye on Marian," Robin had told her as he left her at the back of the house. "And be careful."

"How will I know which one is Marian?" Ginny asked in a hushed tone.

Robin smiled. "You'll know," he promised. Ginny nodded nervously, and disappeared after Mary through the backdoor.

"Don't worry, dear. Gisborne never looks twice at the servants anyways. He won't even realize you're new," Mary had told her confidently as she led Ginny deeper into the interior of the house. "All of us are loyal to Master Robin, 'o course, so we're all happy to do a favor for him and take you on. Can't stand having that greasy git GIsborne here in his place, sitting his arse in Master Robin's chair and sleeping in his bed."

Ginny followed Mary through the back of the house towards the kitchen, wishing fervently that Mary would lower her voice. Gisborne had a smattering of guards stationed in the interior of the house. The last thing I need is to have those comments overheard, she thought. It was her first real time out with the group on a mission, and she was very anxious to do well. Unfortunately, she was not armed, at least not with her usual weapon. She had a small dagger strapped to the inside of her thigh, and strict instructions to use it only as a last resort to defend herself or Marian. Even though Ginny was fairly adept at handling the dagger, Robin had sternly told her that she wasn't there for fighting. Ginny had tried to argue that, if he didn't want her fighting inside, she'd be more useful outside to provide arrow cover for the rest of them during their escape. The gang had thought this was a great suggestion - "Especially now that you're not a half bad shot," Allan had told her - but Robin overruled them. He was adamant: Ginny was at Locksley to keep an eye on Marian, drawing her dagger and blowing her cover only if absolutely necessary. Besides that, her only other function was to sneak upstairs and undo the latch on Robin's bedchamber window, so that he could climb in. Robin had told Mary a tale of woe about Ginny, claiming she needed a job immediately because her family owed the Sheriff taxes. He also told Mary that he needed Ginny to retrieve a personal item from his bedroom, giving her an excuse to go upstairs. He didn't divulge the real reason he wanted Ginny on site for the party to Mary, to prevent the rest of the staff from knowing what he was planning. Robin trusted his former servants, but he couldn't risk Gisborne sensing that the entire staff at Locksley was on edge, arousing his already suspicious nature.

The Locksley kitchen was bustling with activity, and her stomach growled appreciatively at the delicious wafting aromas coming from large pots set into the fires. Ginny looked longingly at the mounds of scrumptiously tempting food that was happily cooking away in the kitchen, wishing that her mission somehow involved eating. She'd had nothing but rabbit almost exclusively for several days, since the gang had already depleted their store of late summer berries.

A small nudge from Mary turned Ginny's attention to a carriage that was visible from the window, riding towards the main entrance of the house. "Lady Marian and her father, Sir Edward of Knighton are arriving," Mary said in a low voice. "Gisborne sent the carriage for them. The guards are watching me, and Gisborne will be distracted by Lady Marian. This is the best opportunity you'll get to slip upstairs." Mary grabbed several sprigs of lavender. "Take this upstairs and put some in every room, girl," Mary said in a loud enough voice for the guards to overhear despite the noise of the kitchen. "The Master wants every room to smell fresh for his guests."

Ginny grabbed the lavender with a nod, and with an almost imperceptible chin jerk from Mary, began to make her way through the great hall towards the staircase. Many of Gisborne's guests had already arrived, so she carefully wove her way around them with her eyes downcast, as she imagined a servant girl would. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a very tall man dressed all in black, striding across the hall purposefully. That must be Guy of Gisborne, Ginny thought. He fits Robin's description perfectly. When Ginny reached the bottom of the stairs, she turned her head ever so slightly and saw that he had hurried over in order to meet his newest guests, an elderly bearded gentleman, and a young woman in a very fine red dress. Marian. Even at this distance, she could tell that Marian was strikingly beautiful, with glossy black hair, porcelain skin, and light blue eyes.

Ginny hurried up the stairs, and after a quick look around to confirm that she was alone, darted into the door that Robin had described as belonging to the bedchamber. She went directly to the window, and yanked the pin out of the latch that was holding the metal gate blocking the window shut. She swung it open nervously, but almost instantly, Robin's head popped into view with a grin. "Perfect timing," he said, climbing inside. "A group of guests very nearly saw us crouched under the window." Before Ginny could ask who "us" was, Much scrambled into the window after his master.

"Marian is here," Ginny told him. "She's downstairs with Gisborne hovering over her. Where are the others?"

"I know," Robin said. "I saw her and Sir Edward arrive. Everyone else will be coming in downstairs. You'd better get back down too, before you're missed. Stay by Marian if you can - try to hear what she and Gisborne are talking about. But keep your head down."

Ginny nodded, and quickly exited the bedchamber. She didn't leave anything in Gisborne's room, because she didn't want to alert him to the fact that Robin had a servant's help getting in, but she hurriedly tossed the lavender sprigs into the two adjacent rooms before hastening downstairs. Luckily, Gisborne had his back to the stairs, but Marian was standing directly beneath her and saw her coming down. Ginny tried to arrange her features in an unconcerned expression as she headed past Marian and Gisborne to the kitchen. She thought she could feel Marian's eyes following her, but she didn't turn to look. Grabbing a cask of ale from the kitchen, she hurried back out again to find a position closer to Marian, who was now alone with her father by the fireplace, scowling.

"What is it?" Marian's father asked her gently. She gave him an incredulous look.

"What is it? This is Robin's house. Look at these people." Marian looked disdainfully at the other guests

Ginny inched closer to Marian like Robin asked, but was troubled by his request. Why would Robin ask her to eavesdrop on Marian, anyway? Surely Marian herself would tell Robin any important details he needed to know. Or maybe that wasn't why Robin wanted Ginny listening. Is Robin jealous? Ginny couldn't see why he should be, they were supposed to be each other's true love, after all. Surely Marian must be repulsed by Gisborne's unwanted attentions. Ginny tried to look busy while she surreptitiously studied Gisborne from across the room. With his height and dark features, he was a handsome man, there was no denying it. But his mannerisms were not nearly as attractive as his face. Those cold eyes and perpetual sneer more than cancelled out his brooding good looks, in Ginny's opinion. Not to mention his obvious disdain for the people around him. For everyone, it seemed, except Marian.

At just that moment, Gisborne walked to the center of the hall. "My lords, ladies and gentlemen," he announced, "thank you for your attendance here today. As you know we are here to celebrate the King's birthday." Gisborne paused long enough to pour wine into several goblets. "We wish him success in the Holy Land," he continued, picking up two of the goblets and walking over to where Marian was standing. "And, we pray for his speedy return to these shores," Gisborne handed the goblets to Marian and her father. He gave Marian an intense look, which she returned as a small but genuine smile, surprising Ginny. Maybe she's not completely repulsed by him after all, Ginny thought.

He then walked back to the table and picked up his own goblet, turning to the crowd and holding it aloft. "Please, raise your goblets in a toast... to King Richard." The guests copied his movement and words sycophantically, before everyone in the room drank. Gisborne, Ginny noted, was staring at Marian, which seemed to make her a little nervous. She shifted uncomfortably under his smoldering gaze. Gisborne didn't seem to notice Marian's discomfort, because he then smiled and continued. " I, myself have a particular reason to hope for the King's early return to England," he said. "For when that day comes, this fair lady, Marian, has consented to be my wife."

A shocked Marian gave him a wide-eyed look, like a deer in lantern lights, Ginny thought, while the room filled with polite applause. Her father grabbed her hand and gave it a conciliatory little squeeze, while Ginny felt a rush of sympathy for Marian, who looked completely gobsmacked by Gisborne's announcement. Gisborne was oblivious to Marian's distress, and was now moving towards her with something in his hand. "Before I toast my future bride," he said with a hint of a smile, "there is something that I would like to present to her." He stopped directly in front of Marian, and looked down at her. Ginny was surprised. If she didn't know better, she'd have thought he looked at Marian with genuine tenderness. "May I," he asked, holding out a rather large and expensive-looking ring.

In contrast to his tentative smile, Marian's face was ashen. "You leave me little choice," she whispered to him. For a moment, a shadow passed over his face. Is he angry or hurt by Marian's reaction? Ginny couldn't be sure.

"I thought you had already made your choice," he reminded her gently, barely loud enough for Ginny to hear.

To her surprise, Marian gave him a small smile. "I have," she agreed. "This means so much to you, doesn't it?" It was more of a statement than a question.

"This means everything to me," Gisborne said softly. "Have I not expressed myself? You mean everything to me," he continued, and there was no mistaking the genuine emotion in his voice. His words were intended for Marian's ears only, and Ginny felt a little intrusive hearing them too.

He grabbed Marian's hand, and Ginny got the distinct impression that this private conversation between Marian and Gisborne was exactly the kind of thing Robin wanted to know about. But Ginny wasn't sure that telling Robin was a good idea. Marian may not have looked overjoyed…but she didn't exactly look horrified either. Clearly, there was more to this situation than Ginny realized.

Gisborne slipped the ring on Marian's finger, and paused with a little sigh of what sounded like relief. Had he been nervous about giving Marian the ring? Ginny asked herself, surprised by him again. Gisborne then smiled at Marian, and turned to the crowd holding a wine goblet aloft. "My lords and ladies," he said with obvious pleasure, "I give you the future Lady Gisborne."

A strange whooshing sound sliced through the resulting cheers as an arrow knocked the goblet from Gisborne's hand to a collective gasp from the guests.

Robin. Ginny instinctively looked up towards the bedchamber for him. She found him right at the top of the stairs, lounging against one of the crossbeams. Ginny realized too late that Marian had noticed her abrupt head turn, and had followed her gaze upward to Robin. Ginny's eyes carefully flickered over to Marian, and was startled to realize that Marian was staring back at her. She knows I helped him in.

Robin, ever the showman, soon drew the attention of everyone in the room to himself. "Have we missed the speeches?" he asked laughingly from his position overlooking the room. Gisborne scowled upward while Ginny saw Marian give Robin a brief radiant smile that she quickly hid.

Just then, there was a resounding crash from the back of the house, as John and Djaq burst from the back of the house, and Allan came barreling through the front door. Ginny couldn't help a small smile of her own at the sight of them, though she tried to keep her features studiedly neutral. Gisborne, however, did not share Ginny and Marian's amusement.

"Hood!" he bit out. "I don't remember inviting you."

Robin scoffed, exchanging a look with Much, who was keeping his bow trained on Gisborne's chest. "Since when has a man needed an invitation to his own house?" he asked innocently, looking down at Gisborne. Much came down the staircase and took his position on the floor as Djaq moved to the front of the great hall.

"Oh, I don't know," Gisborne sneered up at Robin. "Perhaps since he lost all rights to that house by becoming an outlaw?"

Robin chuckled. "I would have declined anyway," he told Gisborne. "My men and I are here on business. Please, everyone," Robin said, addressing the crowd at large, "if you could assist us by removing

all your jewelry and valuables and handing them to that man over there…Much?

Ginny turned to find Much, and saw that he was helping himself to some of the party food. Ginny shook her head, torn between exasperation and envy. John and Allan started herding the guests towards the back of the house. They made no move to gather Ginny with the rest, so she stayed put close to Marian. Gisborne and Robin continued to snipe at each other, Robin smugly superior, Gisborne furiously impotent as his guests were robbed of their valuables. Ginny found herself watching the two of them, and Marian, fascinated. But she immediately snapped herself out of it when she heard the rapping at the front door, three distinct thuds. Will, she thought. Something's wrong.

"Signal," John said aloud, looking towards the rest of them, motioning. Robin, although he too looked at the door, made no move to hasten to an exit.

"Nearly done," he said instead, leaning his bow against the post at the bottom of the stairs, and intently walking towards Marian and Gisborne.

"Master?" Much asked, a little fearful, but Robin pointedly ignored him. Much, Allan and John were all clustered together in the front of the hall, while Djaq positioned herself next to Gisborne, sword drawn. Robin was now right in front of Marian.

"Robin, this is ugly," Sir Edward began, looking anxiously from Robin to Gisborne.

"Yes, this is ugly," Robin agreed, pointedly looking at Gisborne. "This is my house. So, Marian -,"

"Back off Locksley," Gisborne snarled, leaning forward slightly. "Marian does not carry money about her person." John was on Gisborne in an instant, pressing his staff into the other man's neck as a warning.

"How do you know," Robin asked disdainfully to the pinned Gisborne, but Marian shook her head.

"He is right," she confirmed. "I do not carry money." Marian met Robin's eyes, pleading, and Ginny could see a wealth of unsaid emotion in that look. She fervently hoped that Gisborne was too agitated to notice.

Robin suddenly smiled at Marian, as if enjoying some inside joke. "My compliments," he said. "You are very wise to take precautions when there are so many unsavory characters around." His eyes twinkled at Marian, but then stared pointedly down at her hand, which he grabbed. "But this ring…tsk," he shook his head. Ginny knew what was coming next, and she had a feeling that it would only make things worse. At least two minutes had passed since Will's signal. This is not good.

As if reading her mind, John piped up again in a more insistent voice. "Robin - signal." Djaq and Much were both staring at Robin with wide eyes, incredulously. Ginny didn't blame them, Robin should have already left the scene. She briefly scanned the room for Allan, but he must have already slipped out the back.

Continuing to ignore the mounting danger, Robin grabbed the ring on Marian's finger. "You've taken everything else," Gisborne protested angrily. "You can leave that."

"Robin…" Marian's voice trailed off pleadingly as she stared at him.

"What," he asked softly, leaning closer to her. Precious seconds were ticking by, and Ginny's stomach started to clench. Surely, surely Robin wouldn't jeopardize the whole gang over such a trifling thing? Out of pure spite towards Gisborne?

"The signal," John said again urgently, releasing Gisborne and motioning to the others. Much and Djaq followed him towards the back, but Ginny stayed where she was, transfixed by Robin's strange behavior. She watched in suspended disbelief as Robin leisurely kissed Marian's hand and pulled off her ring.

"We should do this again," he said to Gisborne, clearly delighting in the other man's scowl. "It was entertaining." He turned to follow Much out the back door. Instantly, Gisborne's sword was drawn.

"With any luck, once will be enough," he sneered, as he lunged at Robin. Robin drew his own sword and turned to fight, his eyes lighting up at once. Ginny could tell, by the way his eyes danced, that Robin had been hoping for this chance at confrontation all along. Edward immediately seized Marian and dragged her a good distance away, under protest, and Ginny moved next to Marian and Sir Edward. In a flash, Robin had Gisborne pinned against the wall, his arm anchored by Robin's dagger. As Robin backed away, keeping his sword trained on Gisborne, Gisborne wrenched his arm free. As he did so, he ripped his sleeve in the process, revealing a dark blotch on his arm. Ginny was too far away to see the details, but it looked like a tattoo of some kind. Unfortunately, when Robin saw it, he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Surprise," Gisborne smirked, as Robin gaped at him. Ginny couldn't fathom what was going on, and a quick glance at Marian confirmed that she wasn't the only one stymied. But Gisborne evidently understood far more of Robin's reaction than they did.

"It was you," Robin said, in a voice that was at one horrified and filled with hatred. Ginny didn't understand any of the exchange, but she was horrified herself when she saw the look on Robin's face. He looked like he had been Confunded. Worst of all, he was just standing there while Guy was busily extricating himself from the wall and preparing to advance on him.

What are you doing?! Ginny inwardly screamed, as she started to step forward, but Marian's hand on her arm made her pause. Ginny was about to shake Marian off when she was suddenly accosted by a mental image, or rather, a jumble of images swimming into her consciousness and overriding her sense of time and place: swords clashing in the night against a backdrop of flapping tents, men fighting and screaming in the dark, a pair of cold blue eyes looking at her over a scarf, Robin and Gisborne trading insults, and a tattoo. A black tattoo, running red with blood. She felt white-hot anger surging through her veins, but it wasn't her anger at all. It was Robin's. Ginny was caught completely off-guard by what she was seeing and feeling. The strength of the foreign emotions had overwhelmed her senses.

Are these…Robin's memories? Did I accidentally invade Robin's mind? Before Ginny could fully process this, she became dimly aware of Djaq's urgent voice shouting in the distance. The sound was muffled, as though she had cotton balls wadded up in her ears, and Ginny strained to concentrate on Djaq's voice. Quite suddenly, the connection between herself and Robin seemed to break, and Djaq's voice cut through the vision like a knife.

"Robin! What's the matter with you?! Wake up!" Ginny came mentally crashing back to the great hall just in time to see Djaq pushing Robin towards the back of the house, away from Gisborne. Quick as a snake, Gisborne advanced on Djaq and hit her on the back of the head with his dagger, knocking her out cold. Ginny was suddenly conscious of the dagger strapped to her thigh, but common sense and Marian's hand kept her in place. Robin and the others were gone, and she was vastly outnumbered. If she wanted to help Djaq, she'd have to do more than draw her dagger all by herself.

At that precise moment, something happened that took Ginny's breath away, even though she had been anticipating it almost since she had first learned of where and when she was. A man entered Locksley Manor, a man whom she had never seen before: rather short, balding and with a grey beard. And yet for all his small physical stature, he exuded authority, absolute confidence, and the habit of command. Ginny knew at once who he had to be, the aura of power around him was undeniable, very nearly visible, and his mere presence was like a physical impact. At long last, she was laying eyes on the notorious Sheriff of Nottingham.