She was once a carefree young maiden who enjoyed running through the garden and playing chase with her brothers. She was allowed so much freedom and never once questioned the need for protection or the guard that followed her. As a young girl she had long light brown wavy hair and sea blue eyes. Rumor was that she could charm any man around her finger from an early age. There was a time when she thought that life couldn't get any better than this and she was right, life didn't get any better, instead it got much worse.

Fourteen Years Later

Her heart was heavy, her lungs devoid of air and her soul damaged. She was no longer the carefree child of her youth running around the garden with her two brothers. One brother was now away at war while the other had tried to kill her. She now sported a long jagged cut from the tip of her ear, across her neck to the top of her breast. It had been many summers since she had set eyes on the sun and not been imprisoned, any lesser person might have gone mad, but she had something to keep her going, the love of a brother and the promise of a hero.

She wasn't even sure how she'd escaped, whether it had been pure luck or planned. The only certain thing was that it was now over; she could move on and actually make a difference in the world. Her brother would return home soon and all the wrongs would be righted. She was traveling through Sherwood Forest on her way to Nottingham, there was a Sheriff there who needed seeing to and she was the one to give him what for.

She travelled in a large gilded carriage; it screamed nobility and wealth which is exactly why she chose it. She wanted to be noticed. She'd long since exited the carriage and was now hiding behind a large tree, her bow was loaded with an arrow, two daggers were strapped to her hips and her breathing was low and heavy. All she had to do was wait, and she didn't have to wait long. They were noisy when they arrived, no doubt repeating a technique that was over rehearsed.

They had already surrounded her carriage.

'I am Robin Hood' she heard him call, 'That's a fancy carriage you've got there, I wonder what treasures you have hidden inside'.

As he reached forward to open the door she released her arrow. It landed centimetres from his hand, he jumped.

'I wouldn't do that if I were you' she shouted.

'Who are you, show yourself!' he demanded, his bow was drawn and he looked ready to attack.

'There is no fun in revealing myself so soon and you'd probably shoot me on sight' she giggled.

'You're a woman' he said, shocked.

'Don't sound too shocked now, you know firsthand not to underestimate women' she replied.

'Marian' he whispered but she still heard him.

'And the green eyed woman glaring at me' she responded.

She saw Hood glance at Kate briefly.

'Will you show yourself?' he asked.

'Will you open my carriage?' she countered.

'Touche' said Hood with a smirk she couldn't see.

She came out slowly but not from where they expected, she'd been moving while they'd been talking and managed to move all the way round so that when she emerged she was facing their backs.

'You shouldn't turn your back on a potential enemy' she said causing Hood to whip around.

'You're an enemy?' he questioned.

'No I just wanted to see your face at being snuck up upon' she smirked.

'Do I know you?' he asked.

'No but you know my brother' she replied.

'From where?'

'The Holy Land' she replied.

'I fought next to a lot of people there' he responded.

'You wouldn't have forgotten my brother' she replied.

'You won't give me a name?' he asked.

'Where is the fun in that' she smirked, 'you'll work it out sooner or later'.

'Where are you heading?' he asked.

'You ask a lot of questions' she said, 'I'm heading to Nottingham, I have business with the Sheriff'.

'So you are an enemy!' shouted Kate.

'Stupid girl, I have business with him, which means nothing, it does not state my opinions or beliefs'.

'What business do you have with him?'

'I have some news to share, though it might be fun to toy with him first' she replied.

'What news?' Hood asked.

She sighed, 'Never stop with the questions do you, I bring news of someone's passing' she said.

'Who died?' asked the one she knew to be Little John.

'Prince John' she replied with a devious smirk upon her face.

She watched in satisfaction at the shock that appeared on their faces.

'How?'

'What?'

'Who killed him?!' demanded Hood.

She looked at them, her smirk becoming a permanent fixture on her face, she whistled, and her brilliant sandy coloured horse appeared before them all. She mounted him quickly and easily, once seated, she turned to the outlaws and their leader, 'I did' she replied.

Then she was gone.