A shadow appeared in the giant John's back as if from nowhere. The blade flashed in the sunlight, and Marian felt a cold prickle on the back of her neck.

"Careful!" The bow in her hands bent silently as she pulled back the string. Her arrow whizzed past branch and leaf before it bored unerringly with a dull sound directly into the soldier's hand. A pained scream escaped the man as the weapon slipped from his grasp and landed on the ground with a clang.

The giant wheeled around, now aware of the danger, and his gaze seemed to want to guess where the saving bullet had come from. Only for a brief moment did their eyes meet - and though they spoke not a word, Marian could see quiet gratitude in the man's features. The tension around his lips gave way for a moment, releasing the angular hardness from his face and revealing a brief glimpse of the man beneath. Never had Marian seen an honest smile.

"Get a move on!" it hissed from beside him, and with an approving growl, the man hastily bounded into the undergrowth and disappeared from Marian's sight.

It was a whoosh that made her senses sound the alarm. Instinctively, her body jerked as she turned her head. An arrow shot past her face like a shadow, colliding with the trunk and splintering wood and bark. Her call had obviously given away her position, and the guard's archer had not missed his opportunity to attack her unprepared. Already, he was placing the next arrow, which flew in her direction shortly afterward.

Gasping, Marian drew the air into her lungs, took a step to the side out of reflex to step closer to the protecting trunk, and thus forfeited her surefootedness. Everything happened so fast that her mind stumbled behind: Her boot slipped on the branch, and Marian lost her footing. She toppled backward and fell into the depths.

Marian's eyes snapped open. She still tried to reach for the rope she had used to climb the oak, but within a split second, it was already out of reach, and she grasped at nothing. A shrill cry made its way up her throat and was about to leap over her lips. That's when she hit the first branch, and the force squeezed all the air out of her lungs.

The force of the impact flipped her over in front, while she had the presence of mind to pull her arms in front of her face and more or less tried to protect her head. She plunged a good 4 meters unchecked, and as her body hit the hard forest floor, green and brown blurs blurred together into an overpowering black before her eyes. Nausea and dizziness fought for dominance as her mind trundled after a floating leaf.

It took precious seconds that felt like eternal minutes before she slowly realized what had happened. A rustling sound was beside her as her bow sailed down, clattering with twigs and leaves, and came to rest not far away.

Gasping, she tried to think clearly and catch her breath between the pain and dizziness. The shock caused her lungs to falter, and she could no longer breathe. Panic rose in her, and she fought against the blockage in her chest. Then - finally - a first, gasping breath!

Then a silhouette appeared at her side and grabbed her shoulders. "Marian!"

The voice boomed in her ears. Marian squinted her eyes and groaned with the pain of the fall.

"Marian!" it urged again, fingers reaching to take her face in two hands. "Are you all right? Are you hurt?"

Blurred, she saw the colors of moss green as well as brown clothing and the namesake hood casting a shadow over pine green eyes.

"Hood? I... Robin..." moaned Marian, glad she didn't throw up on his boots as he helped her sit up. Nausea and dizziness still ruled her world and were only slowly giving way.

"Can you stand up?" asked Robin. His voice sounded rough and strained.

"I think so?" The young maiden narrowed her eyes slightly as the young thief pulled her to a stand. "Where is my bow?" Marian groped for the familiar wood. Robin immediately reached for the string to widen it and slip the bow over Marian's head before draping her arm over his shoulder. Normally Marian would have bristled at this. But at that moment, she was left with no room for pride.

"We have to get out of here! Now!" urged Robin, leaving no time for further explanation. Marian wouldn't have needed them either in view of the approaching shouts - the soldiers had won and were now urging the bandits to retreat into the forest. Under no circumstances could they allow themselves to be caught; otherwise, they would be strung up on the spot without a long trial. Or, much worse, handed over to the sheriff.

Her legs still felt weak, and her steps were uncoordinated as she stumbled into the forest beside Robin. She threatened to lose her balance more than once, but Robin grabbed her securely and firmly and pulled her immediately back to her feet. Behind them, the sounds of their pursuers urged them on faster and faster. Leaves rustled, branches bent and snapped back, and shouts echoed through the forest.

After a few minutes of running, Marian's lungs burned, but the dizziness was gone. Robin stopped holding her so they could move faster - but refused to let go of her hand and dragged her over stick and stone behind him. Marian was at once somewhat ashamed and glad of this, for she did not possess the constitution of a former warrior, and so at some point, it was only thanks to Robin that she made it further. "Just a little further! You can't follow us deep into the forest!" Robin assured her. Her legs grew weaker with each step, her breathing louder and more panting.

"Robin... I... I can't go on," she finally moaned.

She didn't want to moan; of course, the adrenaline had done its part to push her along. But now her whole body ached, and she could barely manage a step. Briefly, they stopped, and Marian realized from Robin's look that he was seriously considering just throwing her over his shoulder.

"Shh! Here!"

Robin instinctively reached to his side for his sword - ready to draw it. His head spun back and forth.

Marian almost didn't hear the voice. Blood rushed in her ears, and she gave an agonized gasp. The cloth in front of her face was by now entirely soaked by her breath, and drops of sweat also shimmered on her forehead from the exertion.

"Over there! Quick!" said a familiar-sounding voice.

Robin thrust the sword back into its scabbard and reached for Marian. He jerked her aside, and they both landed in a small hollow under a tree trunk. Leaves rustled, then they pressed tightly under the wood.

"Hey! This is my hiding place! Get out of here! It's cramped enough without you!" hissed Will, pressing himself into the shade of the trunk beside them. The giant John crouched diagonally opposite in a massive hazelnut bush and raised his finger meaningfully in front of his lips.

"Shhhh! Be quiet! Or do you want them to catch us?" he murmured - not a second too soon. The hurried footsteps of the guards caught up and came rapidly closer.

Robin stretched and, in a slow movement, gathered a pile of leaves in front of the narrow entrance of the hiding place under the roots so that their figures were hidden behind it a little better. Marian understood the tactic, and Will seemed to prefer his survival to fight, so they swept as much foliage as they could against the trunk to duck behind.

The heavy smell of earth and damp, musty leaves stung Marian's nose. A dirty cobweb clung to her sleeve, and a tiny spider fled hurriedly from its ruined home. Lying flat on her stomach, blue eyes peered over her forearm and out from under her hood onto the forest floor in front of them.

A fallen tree, ferns, and dense bushes made this spot look like any other in the forest. The hazel bush hid the stocky figure of John - and perhaps other bandits. Sherwood Forest was an endless maze of hollows and smaller hills. Trees stood close together as far as the eye could see. It was easy to disappear here. Still, Marian hoped with a sinking stomach that they hadn't left any conspicuous traces on their escape that could now be their undoing.

"Damn it, where have they gone!" grumbled an irritated voice not far away. Rustling leaves accompanied by footsteps of heavy boots. A small twig snapped under its weight as one of the guards appeared in their field of vision. Breathing heavily, a second joined them a little way away. Sparse sunlight made the blades in their hands flash menacingly. Emblazoned on their tabards was the sheriff's crest.

Marian swallowed hard. Suddenly her throat and lips were incredibly dry, and she convulsively suppressed the urge to clear her throat. Her whole body was tense. The telltale heart in her chest was pounding faster than any horse on whose back she had ever galloped across her father's lands.

"I think there was something back there!" one shouted, pointing in the appropriate direction.

"Are you sure?" his panting friend followed his comrade's hint. Neither, however, made any suggestion of running off in that direction, much to their annoyance.

'Get out of here already!' pleaded Marian silently, pressing his lips tightly together.

"They're long gone," grumbled the unmotivated of the two.

"But if we come back without one of the bandits and the taxes, the sheriff will have us quartered!" the other whined, groaning audibly.

Something moved beside her, and Marian turned her head. Will was staring toward John's hiding, and Marian spotted the blond colossus gesturing slowly and carefully among the leaves and branches. He drew his thumb across his throat in a meaningful gesture. The hint was clear, and Marian's heart beat faster in panic.

They wouldn't stand a chance against two trained soldiers in heavy chainmail. Unlike the highwaymen, the two guards had already drawn their weapons and would immediately notice the telltale rustling of leaves. Before they were out from under the tree, blades would already be in their throats, or they would be directly a head shorter. Nervously, she glanced at Robin, and her fingertips went cold.

Surely these fools wouldn't really try that...? Or would they?!