Marian whirled around to see Annie Smith kneeling in prayer at one of the pews.

Oh... Marian sniffled.

Whats wrong, Marian? Annie asked, pulling herself to her feet.

My Fathers been murdered! Marian wailed, sinking to her knees.

What? Was it Gisborne? Annie cried.

Gisborne... why would say that? Marian demanded.

Because I saw him leaving your house just before the sun rose this morning, Annie said. Id gone out to feed the chickens and I saw him in the distance.

Are you certain it was him? Marian asked.

Oh, yeah. I dont know who else it could be. That dark cloak, that huge white horse... who else could it have been?

Marians pink face turned red with fury, and her eyes narrowed to mere slits. Her fists clenched so tightly that her fingernails dug into her flesh and she began to bleed.

Ill kill him, she growled. Ill kill him!

Marian dragged herself to her feet.

Where are you going? Annie demanded.

To have a chat with Lord Gisborne, Marian spat.

Marian, no! h.e.l.l kill you!

Then let him kill me! Marian shouted. Ive nothing left to live for! But I will take him down with me!

Marian, its freezing out there! You cant walk that far in this weather. Look at you! Wheres your shawl or your cloak?

Marian glanced down, noticing for the first time that her shawl was missing. She must have lost it between the cottage and the church.

Take Clives horse, Annie offered. Its. .h.i.tched outside our house.

Thank you, Annie, Marian said. I love you. Thank you for everything.

Marian wrapped her arms around Annie briefly, and then she rushed out into the snow, which was now coming down so thickly she could hardly see. It stuck to her eyelashes and blurred her vision.

She found the horse hitched to the fence in front of Annies house, and she slid the reins from around the post and pulled herself onto its back. She kicked the horses sides, and it reared up and whinnied, darting out onto the lane and driving forward through the snow.

Faster and faster the horse galloped, kicking up thick clouds of snow behind it. Marians eyes were nearly frozen shut with melting snow and tears. She raced into the courtyard and pulled the horses reins so abruptly it skidded in the snow and reared up, nearly bucking her off. She slid down the horses back.

GISBORNE! she shouted. GISBORNE!

Spotting her erratic behavior and wild appearance, the guards by the door grabbed her, one by each arm. She struggled, pulling her arms, trying to break free.

GISBORNE! she screamed.

The front doors flew open, and he stood there with his dark tendrils of hair flying about his face and his cloak billowing behind him.

Release her! Gisborne demanded, and the guards immediately eased their grip.

Marian jerked her arms away from them and strode up to Gisborne, her palm crashing across his cheek with such force that his head whipped to the side.

How dare you! she shouted, tears flowing freely down her face. What did he do to you? Answer me!

Marian, what are you...

Dont you dare lie to me, Gisborne! she shrieked. My Father is dead, and you were seen leaving my house this morning!

Marian, I was...

I hate you, Gisborne! I hate you with every breath in my body! I should kill you where you stand! she screamed.

The guards twitched, their heavy armor clinking, but Gisborne threw up his hand to hold them at bay.

Marian, I dont know what youre on about, he said gently. Something happened to your father?

Dont pretend you know nothing! Marian demanded. You were seen leaving my house! What say you?

I wasnt even...

If you ever come near me again, I will kill you, she snarled. So help me, I will kill you myself! I will hate you until my dying breath, Guy of Gisborne. I was right about you before. You are a monster!

With that, she hastily turned on her heel, swept herself up onto the horse, and galloped away, leaving Gisborne standing in the door.

Marian! he called after her, his voice thick with distress. MARIAN!

Marian kicked the sides of the horse harder and harder, urging it forward. On it raced until it reached the lane, where she turned it up the hill beyond the lake. She jumped off its back while it was still moving and grabbed the reins, tying them to a tree.

She tripped and stumbled blindly through the nearly pitch-black forest. Somehow, the snow even managed to penetrate the thick tree canopy, and she could scarcely feel her feet. Gritting her teeth, she waded across the creek, sucking in a sharp breath as the frigid water felt as though thousands of needles were stabbing into her flesh.

Robin! she screamed shrilly. Robin!

His head poked out from his tent, and he eyed her with concern as she stood before him dripping and pale.

Marian, whats happened? he asked, pulling her against him and leading her into the warmth of his tent.

G-Gisb-borne, she chattered. H-hes k-killed my f-father!

What? Robin gasped, pushing her carefully onto his mattress and wrapping her thickly with furs and skins.

Her teeth clacked together so violently her head began to ache, and she closed her eyes and rocked back and forth, her arms wrapped around her knees. Robin sat beside her and took her into his strong arms.

Tell me what happened, Robin said.

W-when I g-got home from w-work... she stammered. I found F-Father. Someone c-cut his throat!

How do you know it was Gisborne? Robin asked.

A-Annie... sh-she saw him l-leaving this m-morning... He was l-leaving the c-cottage Marian, Im so sorry, Robin whispered into her hair.

The warmth of Robins embrace began to calm her, warming her body and soothing her mind. She began to relax against him, her head drooping to his shoulder.

What am I to do? he wailed. Ive nowhere to go, and I cant go back to the castle. I cant!

Shh, Robin whispered. Shh, its all right. You can stay here.

With you?

Well set you up with your own tent, Robin said quickly. You can join us.

Gisborne will come for me, she said. Youll all be in danger.

You let us worry about that, Robin said. Youre among friends.

Marian nodded weakly, her hands grasping Robins tunic as she sobbed into his shoulder.

Marian, why would Gisborne kill your father, anyway? Robin asked. It doesnt make any sense.

Because he came to me this morning and formally asked me to marry him on bended knee. I said no, and the flew into a rage and trashed the cottage.

I see.

Hes angry, Robin. I was so frightened. I didnt even want to go to work today, but I had no choice. But now thats Fathers gone, Ive little reason to go back. Gisborne must have gone in right after I left.

We wont let him get away with this, Marian. I swear to you... you will have vengeance.

No, Marian said flatly. Im not going to do it. I wont sink to his level.

Marian, because of him, youve lost everything! Youve lost your father, your freedom... youll have to hide like an outlaw!

I thought I could do it, Robin, she said. I went to the castle. I confronted him. I was ready to tear him apart with my bare hands! But I couldnt. I just couldnt allow myself to become a monster like him.

Then Ill do it, Robin declared.

Oh, no you wont! Marian insisted. Ill not have you in more trouble because of me. If you murder Gisborne, youll be the most hunted man in England!

I dont care! This cannot go unpunished!

Well find a way to make him pay for this, Robin, but not with bloodshed. Theres been enough of that already.

Hes a vampire, Marian! He kills for sport! He and his kind need to be eradicated!

That may be, but you arent going to be the one to do it, she warned him. The she raised her voice through the walls of the tent to shout, Nor any of you!

She heard the scuffling of feet in the leaves and the clearing of throats as the others moved away from Robins tent where theyd been silently listening.

Are you certain this what you want? Robin asked.

Yes. We will not be monsters like him, Marian said adamantly.

Very well, said Robin. If that is what you wish, then we will find another way to make Gisborne pay.

Too right, muttered John from outside the tent.

I need to get Annies horse back, Marian said. And... we need to get my father a proper burial.

Ill see to the horse, Marian, Robin said. You lie down and get some rest. Well take care of your father on the morrow.

Where will you sleep? Marian asked.

Ill sleep in the cave, Robin said. Dont worry, its quite cozy.

Marian nodded, and Robin stood up and allowed her to lie down. Then he turned to leave the tent, but she grabbed his arm. He turned to look at her.

Robin... thank you.

He smiled and nodded. My pleasure.

He disappeared through the tent flap, and Marian wrapped the hides more tightly around her to keep out the freezing air. But she could not sleep. Softly, quietly, she began to cry. Losing her father was hard enough, but to know that shed been duped by someone shed very nearly grown to trust was too much to bear.

Gisborne would pay.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

Marian awoke to the scent of warm bread and cooked meat. She opened her eyes, and Robin was peering down at her and smiling. In his hand, he held a plate of food.

Good morn, milady, he said, and she managed a weak smile in response.

Thank you, Robin, but Im not very hungry.

Come on, Marian, you need to keep up your strength. Ive made arrangements for a funeral for your father in Locksley.

Father Michaels is out of town, Marian said.

Dont worry, theres a Friar visiting town whos agreed to officiate. Now here, eat.