Silence descended on the camp as everyone's eyes fell on Margaret.
"What's going on?" said Robin.
"Margaret?" prompted John. Margaret again sought some answers behind those cold blue eyes. What happened? Do they know? What should I say? They told her nothing.
"Who is this man?" she spoke at last.
"Sir Guy of Gisburne," answered Tuck.
"Our enemy," added Scarlet, tugging sharply at the ropes around Gisburne's hands.
"Those men who were chasing you took Gisburne prisoner," said John.
"Why?" asked Margaret, casually playing with a loose stitch in her sleeve.
"They thought they could trade Gisburne for you." Margaret dropped the sleeve.
"Oh."
"What we'd like to know is why they went to so much trouble. Not that we don't appreciate the gesture," replied John, thumping his enemy soundly on the back.
"What have you done?" questioned Will.
"Nothing!" protested Margaret.
"She stole something," stated Gisburne. The outlaws turned to the knight as one, but it was Robin who spoke first.
"Stole something? Stole what?" Margaret was glaring at Gisburne, who almost seemed to be smiling.
"I can't say," said Margaret firmly.
"Can't or won't?"
"It doesn't matter. It's not important."
"Not important?" cried Scarlet. "They kidnapped Gisburne in order to get you! What did you do, Margaret?" Will took a step towards her.
"I would have thought you'd be happy," spoke Gisburne quickly. The outlaw swirled around.
"Happy?"
"She stole something. It's what you wolfsheads do, isn't it?"
"She's not a wolfshead," replied Robin. "Will, step away...from both of them." Scarlet muttered a curse, but obeyed his leader's orders.
"Margaret, we're not judging you. We're just concerned," said Tuck, laying a hand on her shoulder. "You said you had a brother in Nottingham. Does he know...Does he know what happened?" He does now, thought Margaret, as Gisburne stared at her in surprise. As her eyes darted away again, she missed the glance he exchanged with Robin.
"Your brother must be very anxious to find you," persisted Tuck. Margaret laughed quietly at the irony of Tuck's statement.
"I believe he is anxious to marry me off or shut me away in some cloister."
"And where else should you be?" questioned Gisburne sharply. "Here among these--"
"Watch it, Gisburne," warned Will, his dagger in close proximity to the knight's throat.
"Yes, watch it, Gisburne," repeated Margaret sweetly. Gisburne gritted his teeth and Margaret suddenly looked penitent.
"Sweet heavens above!" gasped Tuck, who was staring at Gisburne intently.
"Tuck? What's the matter?" asked Marion in concern.
"We'll speak about it later, Tuck," stated Robin, his face expressionless. Tuck nodded slowly, then attempted to reassure Marion with a smile.
"We've done enough talking. It's time we did something with 'im!" growled Will, waving his dagger at Gisburne again.
"Will-" began Tuck.
"What do you mean?" demanded Margaret, unable to hide the faint trace of fear in her voice.
"Much, get the rope. John..." The taller man tightened his grip on Gisburne's arm.
"Come on," ordered John, dragging the knight forward.
"But..." said Margaret. She watched helplessly as they tied Gisburne to the nearest tree. Then she turned and walked out of the camp.
"Robin."
"Later, Tuck. Later, I promise." The monk shook his head in bafflement.
"It's impossible," murmured Tuck.
"What's impossible?" asked Much.
"That we've lasted this long without a meal. John? Will?" John picked up his bow but Scarlet appeared to be preoccupied with his dagger and the place where he might plant it...
"Coming Will?" said John. Will was reluctant to leave their prisoner unguarded. He might have refused altogether if he hadn't spotted Nasir's twin swords.
"I'm coming," he grumbled, as Nasir took over his post. Robin waited patiently for a few minutes, then approached his enemy. Nasir bowed and crossed to the other side of the camp. Robin was grateful once again for the Saracen's tact. If only the same thing could be said for Gisburne. The outlaw sighed and crouched down on his haunches.
"Gisburne." The knight ignored him. "Gisburne?"
"I have nothing to say to you."
"Guy of Gisburne at a loss for words? I don't believe it!" The knight scowled but said nothing. Robin lowered his voice, even though his friends were engrossed in their own conversation. "I would have thought you'd have something to say about Margaret at least."
"What is there to say? She's here and you lied."
"I didn't lie. I was as surprised to see her as you were."
"Were you? You must have recovered from the shock pretty quickly. Tell me, did she ask to join you or did you have to persuade her?"
"She was in trouble, Gisburne. When her brother refused to let her stay--"
"What?" The others turned to Gisburne in surprise.
"Keep your voice down," whispered Robin, winking to his friends in encouragement.
"I didn't refuse to let her stay," hissed Gisburne. "She left me no choice in the matter!"
"Well, you got rid of her quickly enough, didn't you?"
"I didn't tell her to go. She left!"
"What?" Robin studied his enemy carefully but he could find no signs of deception.
"Why?"
"What?"
"Why did she leave?" Gisburne rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"We had a...disagreement."
"About what?"
"I'd rather not say," said the knight wearily.
"That bad, was it?" Gisburne didn't answer.
"Why did you accept her?" asked Robin.
"What do you mean?"
"Why did you let her stay?"
"She had just announced to the Sheriff that she was my sister. What was I supposed to do?"
"You could have denied it."
"Denied it? That monk just found out and we didn't say anything!"
"Oh, I think you both said more than enough. If the others weren't so fond of Margaret, they might have seen it too."
"Seen what? What was there to see?" Robin smiled again, amazed that Gisburne really didn't understand. Robin knew better than to attempt an explanation. Besides, there were more pressing concerns at the moment.
"Who were those men who captured you?" Gisburne stared at him.
"You mean you really don't know?"
"No. Who are they?" Gisburne released a short but amused chuckle.
"How am I supposed to know?"
"You don't know?"
"Of course not!"
"But you must know something," argued Robin impatiently.
"She stole something. They want it back. That's all I know, Wolfshead."
"No, I think you know something else."
"Oh, and what is that?"
"Margaret took something valuable. Very valuable. If nothing else, the lump on your head proves that."
"All right, she's a good thief," admitted Gisburne.
"And she's in danger," said Robin. The knight's eyes flitted away from the outlaw's face for an instant.
"Yes." Robin rose quickly and Gisburne wondered if the interrogation was over. However, the outlaw soon returned carrying a cup of water.
"I don't want it."
"I don't care. You'll take it and any food we offer you. We can't have you fainting when Margaret rescues you." Gisburne's eyes widened.
"What?"
"You heard me."
"You think she's going to free me? You must be joking!"
"But she will."
"Why?"
"Because you're her brother."
"No, I'm not."
"She believes you're her brother. It's enough." Gisburne shook his head firmly. Robin decided that this probably wasn't the time to point out that Gisburne had already accepted Margaret as his sister, no matter how much he tried to deny the fact.
"When Margaret rescues you--"
"If she rescues me."
" When she rescues you, I want you to take her with you."
"But why? Why would you let either one of us go?"
"Because she doesn't belong here, Gisburne."
"She seems happy enough."
"Then you couldn't have really been looking," stated Robin. Gisburne had no response for that statement. He thought about the situation for a moment or two and actually smiled.
"It's Marion, isn't it?"
"Marion? Why would she have anything to do with this?"
"Because she always does when it comes to you." Robin placed a hand to his forehead.
"Marion doesn't like Margaret," he conceded reluctantly. Gisburne sniggered.
"Oh, I'm sure she doesn't. I saw some of the looks she was giving her. Perhaps Margaret should stay so they can resolve their differences." Robin shot Gisburne a dirty look of his own.
"If Margaret stays, you stay."
"But if you think she's going to rescue me, how can you be certain of that?"
"I'll stop her."
"What if you can't?"
"You'll wish I had."
"Oh, will I?"
"I think so."
"And why is that?"
"Because if she stays, I'll start a rumour that Guy of Gisburne's sister is a wolfshead."
"Go ahead. No one will believe it," replied Gisburne with a smirk.
"They might not at first, but what about after a young woman with blue eyes and golden hair is spotted by a traveller during one of our raids, or in some of the villages?" The smirk suddenly vanished. "Edward already figured out who she is. How long do you think it will take the other villagers?" Robin patted his enemy's shoulder contemptuously. "Think about it. I know I will."
Marion hadn't expected to find their guest seated in her favourite bower. She almost turned away, but her conscience held her there. Margaret looked very vulnerable when she had no need to prove her courage. Marion approached and Margaret, who was unprepared for battle, began to retreat from the bower.
"You've been crying," said Marion gently.
"So what if I have?" answered Margaret bluntly. "Does that displease you as well?" She tried to walk away again, but Marion grabbed her arm.
"Who are you?"
"Does it matter?"
"It does to some people, apparently." Margaret smiled despite the tears.
"What do you wish me to say, Marion?"
"You could tell me how you know Gisburne." Margaret blushed a clumsy hand across her cheeks and giggled.
"You were there, weren't you? I met him when Will and John brought him to the camp."
"I don't believe you."
"I don't care."
"You seemed to care when they took him prisoner."
"Well, you were obviously mistaken then, weren't you?"
"But I saw you. You were afraid." Margaret laughed again but the sound rang hollow in both their ears.
"What are you to him, Margaret? His spy? His lover?" questioned Marion insistently. Margaret stared back at the woman as if she had been slapped.
"Why do you hate me so much? What did I ever do to you?"
"I don't hate you," gasped Marion, shocked by Margaret's pale but furious face.
"You don't trust me though, do you?" urged Margaret.
"How can I? You've told so many lies." Margaret's hands curled into fists, but her voice remained strangely calm, almost detached.
"You're right. I have lied. But it's your enemy I've put in danger."
"What?"
"You all think those men took Gisburne so they could bargain with you?"
"Yes."
"No. Those men would have bargained with me if Will and John hadn't come across them first."
"But why?" Margaret shook her head and smiled.
"Goodbye, Marion."
"Margaret..." Marion sat down slowly, lost in thought. What had Margaret been trying to say? Was it just a joke? No, she could remember the expression on Tuck's face...and the way Edward had stared at her. She's not like him.
Suddenly Marion was on her feet again.
"Margaret!"
Scarlet lay by the fire, but he wasn't feeling drowsy like his companions. The meal had only served to sharpen his senses. Ever since Robin had left the camp in search of Marion and Margaret, Will had found the temptation impossible to resist. Robin might refuse to let him harm Gisburne, but surely even Herne's Son wouldn't begrudge him a little fun.
"Where are you going, Will?" asked Much sleepily, as his friend rose and stretched.
"Someone has to watch Gisburne if you lot are going to spend the rest of the day sleeping!"
"Gisburne doesn't seem to mind," retorted Tuck with a yawn.
"Well, he wouldn't, would he?" The monk gave no reply, but he knew better than to take his eyes off Scarlet. However, Will acted cautiously, waiting a bit longer before he closed in on the knight.
"I heard you and Robin had a little talk," remarked the outlaw. "What did you talk about?"
"Why don't you ask him?"
"I'd rather ask you. It's more fun. You are going to tell me aren't you, Gisburne? Ah, come on. You'll ruin the game." Will waited again before making his move. Gisburne had turned his head away, declaring a stalemate.
"You're not playing by the rules, Gisburne." The knight nearly laughed.
"An outlaw talking to me about rules! You live outside the law, wolfhead. Since when do you worry about rules?"
"I don't like your tone of voice, Gisburne."
"And I don't like your voice at all, wolfshead." Some laughter broke out by the fire and Will's sword was out.
"Will!" protested Tuck. Scarlet ignored his friend and rested the tip of the sword against Gisburne's chest.
"Right! Talk or die, you Norman pig!" Tuck rose to his feet even though he knew that Scarlet probably had no intention of killing Gisburne in cold blood. Unfortnately, not everyone knew that. Tuck had only taken a few steps when he felt the cold blade of a dagger against his throat.
"Get away from him, Will," said Margaret.
"Margaret, no!" cried Marion, as she and Robin ran into the camp. But they were too late. Margaret had no intention of releasing her hostage.
"Touch him and die," she stated when Will made no attempt to obey her orders. "I mean it."
"What?" Scarlet laughed.
"Will..." warned Robin.
"She's joking. She doesn't mean it...She can't!"
"Look at her, lad," said John. "She means it." Will's grin faded as he finally met the cool, unflinching eyes. He was outraged.
