Outlaws Mission

[sazjj17]

" There is no God " shouts Much "and this is not a good day to die" says much.
"I need Water, Shade and i burn easily" thought Much.
" How is everyone doing" " I really need something to drink and just then Much stopped talking beacuse of the heat

[Marian]

As she was tied roughly to the back of the posts where Robin was tied, she let out an inaudible sigh. So was this how is was to end? The gang dying dehydrated, left to die in a desert in the Holy Lands, branded as traitors for ever more? It didn't seem fair. Risking their lives time and time again to stand up for, defend and save the life of King Richard - now the Sheriff had got to him first and spun him some tale. They all had lives to live - she'd wanted to die in England, married to Robin - not here, not now. "I'm sorry..." She murmered.

She leant her head back against him, and smiled slightly. "Say the words then handsome..."

[Robin Hood]

They'd caught Marian. When he'd known he and the gang would die, branded as traitors, he hadn't exactly been happy. But knowing Marian might survive? That kept him going. Now they would die together, in this sweltering heat - and there was nothing they could do about that, or the attempt about to be made on the King's life. It seemed England was lost to Prince John, the Black Knights and the Sheriff. "I'm sorry too, my love."

He looked bewildered as she spoke to him. "What words?" He asked, his mouth already dry from the lack of water at the heat. If he could he could he would have tried to smile at Much, act as if everything was going to be alright - although he knew it wouldn't be. But it was Marian who was facing the others - he was facing the never ending desert...

[Marian]

She paused, "I, Robin, take you Marian, to be my lawful wedded wife." She paused, letting him take it from there. This was going to be their last chance, and she wanted to be Lady Marian of Locksley, an honest woman, married to the man she loved before she died with him. She looked to those around her, all tied up and looking at her and Robin. Much, Allan, Little John, Djaq and Will - they were dying for England.

She met each of their eyes for a second, and wished this wasn't how it all ended. Looking to Much, she knew his words were true: Today wasn't a good day to die, was it. And God was not looking likely to come to their rescue...

[Robin Hood]

He smiled slightly, "Marian, are you sure this is the best time?" He asked, leaning his head toward her too. Marian. He thought about what it would have been like, had they have survived this: they would have married, Lord and Lady Locksley - and they would have had children too. They wouldn't have died until they were old, and then they would be together, always - because that was what true love should be. And now...it had all been destroyed. If he'd have lived a different life, things would have been different - but then he couldn't have lived with himself, and Marian wouldn't have been in love with him. "Now?"

[Marian]

"Now is a good time, I think." She murmured softly, wishing she could be looking at his face right now, instead of tied here, back to back, waiting for death. "We are in the company of the best witnesses that England has to offer. We're dying for England. All of us. And I want to be married to you Robin, before...." She paused, "Before we go." She waited for him to say the words, and it was a happy thought in her mind - the last thing she would do would be to marry the one she loved.

[Robin Hood]

He nodded to himself - she had a point. "I, Robin, take you, Marian, to be my lawfully wedded wife. To have and to hold, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer," He paused - this was too difficult. He was close to tears, because how could he say the next line? After she prompted him he swallowed and continued, his voice a little shaky; "in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish:" And the last part. The hardest to say, because it was soon to become true. "Until death do us part."

[Marian]

She smiled - now it was her turn. She knew this was difficult, but better to die getting married, than to die in sorrowful silence. "I, Marian, take you Robin of Locksley, master of the bow, champion of the poor, and Lord of my heart, to be my lawful wedded husband." She paused, cherishing the words - and the moment - forever. "I promise to love and to cherish you, for better or for worse, from this day forward;" She smiled to herself, "And as long as we both shall live." She looked to Much, who was sobbing, and smiled softly. "Much, don't cry." She stopped. Was that a hallucination? Was the heat make her seeing things? Or was that a man, running towards them? In the Kings robes, announcing his well known statement....

[Carter]

As Much started crying at Robin and Marians marriage, a figure suddenly appeared next to him. "He's not crying..." said Carter grinning ferociously, "he's laughing on the wrong side of his face!" He leaped off his horse and effortlessly whipped his dagger from his pocket. He started to cut the rope that was hanging Little John from the posts, smiling at the shear amount of gushing praise that everyone was screaming at him. "God, for people that have been hung up in a searing hot desert for hours, you sure can scream!" he said raising an eyebrow but still smiling. Little John sprung free and Carter started untying Much. He shook he head. "You guys owe me big."

[Marian]

She grinned in disbelief as she heard the voice of Carter. She couldn't help crying a little -of joy now, but because the tears had already been there, waiting to drop. Now, as she was untied, she untied Robin, and the two fell into each others arms. They weren't yet fully married, but that didn't matter just yet. They were alive - they had the rest of their lives!

She turned and gave Carter a hug, "Thank you!" They did owe him, but there was a King to save right now! "King Richard." She said, as she moved away and stood at Robin's side. "He'll be on his way to meet the Sheriff's phony messenger. We've got to save him!"

[Robin Hood]

He held her close, realising just how close he'd become to nearly losing her. He might have shed tears had his emotional guard not been up. They weren't married yet, no - but there was plenty of time for that in the future! Their plan could go on: save the King, save England, and then they would marry. In a proper ceremony, not before dying.

"Right. The King." He gave Carter a friendly slap on the back. "We owe you one." He smiled, and then became serious once more, remembering why they were here. "Right. Carter, can you take us to the place they were planning to meet? We've got a life to save..."

[Djaq]

Suddenly, the fatigue and utter feeling of death lifted off Djaq like a blanket, and vanished into thin air. As Carter untied her she leaped free, screamed in delight and started hastily untying Will. As she carried on untying him silently, she listened in on Carter, Robin and Marians conversation about the King. She knew that the King needed saving, even if he had put her and her friends through that much torture. He didn't know any better. He did not deserve to be blamed.

Djaq had clean forgotten that she would have died if she had been left there for a few more hours, she tended to move on from events pretty quickly, even if they were as dire as death itself. She had crawled out of a few scraps in the past, and was ready and willing to do so again in the future. Today is never a good day to die.

[Will Scarlett]

Will was not normally one to complain things that were upsetting or hurting him, and today was no exception, even though he had obviously been burnt by the sun and that the ropes were leaving burns and blisters on his wrists and ankles where they were tied up. But complaining was not an option.

As Djaq untied the last rope that was keeping his right arm attached to the wooden stake, he slipped his newly free hand into hers and squeezed it reassuringly. He looked down at their interlinking fingers, and noticed that she too, had a red ring around her wrist where the rope had been digging in. Never the less, however much pain the ropes and sun had caused, they were alive, and together.

He looked into her eyes and smiled lovingly, relieved that they were safe as they walked over to where the other outlaws and Carter were standing, turning his attention to what the Crusader was saying about the King.

[Carter]

"Right. I believe the King has been planning to meet this guy in the middle of the town." said Carter, locking away his happy, jolly and slightly sarcastic ways and bringing out the sensible, calm and getting-things-done ones. "Town center. Apparently there are a few abandoned houses, and a square of dry land with a dried up fountain in the middle of it." Carter said matter-of-factly to the rest of the gang. His description was brief, but he knew what he was talking about.

"Winding alleyways, in the middle of no-where..." said Carter to Robin. "The perfect place for trouble." he straightened himself up and handed out a few water satchels to the gang, and they all drank thirstily. "We need to get moving. Fast" he said seriously, "the King could be in serious trouble." He frowned and whipped out his sword from its hilt, "that Sheriff really has it coming to him." he said solemnly, and sharply turned around to lead them to the destination of the betrayal.

As the gang plus Carter walked through the desert, Carter eyed each and every one of the gang puzzled. He eyes rested on Robin, who's arm was draped around Marians shoulders, looking quite the couple. He smiled and shook his head, "I knew there was something going on between you two." he said grinning, and his attention turned to Will and Djaq, and they're interlocked hands. "And since when have you two been able to do that?" he said raising an eyebrow "Or ever have done that for that matter?!"

"And who are you?" he said frowning, yet grinning at Allan A Dale.

[Will Scarlett]

Will mumbled something at Carter's last comment, as he was still not used to people knowing about his and Djaq's relationship, but none the less, he was happy and relieved about it being out in the open, and no longer a secret. He wasn't sure if Carter's question was a rhetorical one or not. So instead he just smiled nervously at him and then back at Djaq as she squeezed his hand reasuringly, and Will guessed that he had probably turned bright red as soon as Carter had make this remark and as much as he hoped that he wasn't looking as embarrassed as he felt, he had no no doubt that he was.