A sudden knock came to the door making me shoot up in my bed shocked. I was still clutching the sheets to my bed, sweating slightly as I sighed, this was becoming foolish. It had been two weeks since the incident with Joe Lacey, with not much just the usual, Robin annoying the Sheriff and Robing and Sir Guy playing hide and seek.

"My Lady?" One of the servants called out from behind the door as I sighed and laid my head once again on my pillow as I rubbed my forehead. My long hair sticking the back of my neck as I gave a slight groan.

"Come in" I called as the servant brought in a tray of food and settled it on the chest beside my bed. I sat up stiff in the back, as I ruffled my hair. The sleep still in my eyes as I wished for one night of a peaceful sleep. My painful nightmares of my past haunted me, my father grew worried and stressed, which only made me feel guilty. He didn't need my troubles to sleep on his mind. He had plenty to worry about at it is.

I glanced out the window to see the sun was higher in the sky, meaning I had woken late. Normally I woke at first light and went for a ride, to clear my head. I went to the place where my mother and I shared. It made me peaceful. I sighed as the servant left to prepare the bath for me, as I nibbled on the bread, cheese and ham beside me bed.

When I was fresh and cleaned up, I rubbed the back of my neck, stiff from probably sleeping at the wrong angle. As I walked downstairs, I overheard the gossiping maids as they were cleaning the dining room.

"Apparently there's trouble at Treeton Mine." One whispered as I listened from the top of the stairs, brushing the short strand of hair too short to stay in my long plait my ear. I heard a few sniffles as I frowned about to head down before one of the maids cut the noise off.

"Shhhh! Do you want the Lord or Lady to hear ya?" One hissed as I frowned deeper.

"My brother was in the mines. He and my uncle were killed" One sobbed as I felt a pang of sympathy rush towards the poor woman.

"I heard Sir Gisborne isn't letting them be fed or payed until he says so" Another whispered, which was enough for me to hear. I raced upstairs and got dressed. I slipped the scarf around my face and the mask around my eyes. I drew my hood as I crept out my window. I knew how to escape from my own window easily as I made my way to the stables. I grabbed a couple of food parcels I kept in storage before I mounted my horse and rode to Treeton mine.

When I arrived, women were weeping, graves were being dug out, some ready to bury their dead loved ones. I pulled on the reins as my horse stopped as I watched the current funeral. The body was wrapped in cloth and tied with rope, the grave dug out, the stones prepared. A young man and his mother stood beside the grave. The woman weeping into her sons chest. I bowed my head for a moment to respect the dead.

"Father, I will avenge thee. Gisborne will pay." The young man spoke as I raised an eyebrow coming forward. My horse whined as the young boy maybe a teenager turned round to look up at me as I tossed him a food parcel. "Food parcels? You can’t give to us. Gisborne’s forbidden it." The boy told me as I rolled my eyes and turned to head back to my home.

"He has spies everywhere!" He shouted as I scoffed slightly. Right now I really didn't care about Gisborne, just as I turned the next corner Guy jumped out brandishing his sword. Which made my horse to rear as I landed with a thud on my back before quickly getting up and holding the reigns to the precious animal so that he wouldn’t run away.

"Nothing like a tragedy to bring out the do-gooders. Where is your leader? Where is Robin Hood?" Guy questioned as I just remained silent behind my mask as he advanced. I tightened my grip on the reigns with each step before he stopped once again.

"Or are you alone? Does Robin Hood think himself too important to do his own mischief now?" He asked me as he paused, before putting his hand to his ear, teasing me to talk as I didn’t give him the satisfaction. I wasn’t stupid, one word from my mouth would give away who I was.

"Hm? A man of few words? No matter. I’m sure I will hear your voice when you plead for your life." He smirked before in a flash he reached out and struck my left arm. I bit hard on my tongue not to cry out ouch. I sucked in a breath at the pain, as I held my slightly wounded arm to my chest. I didn’t dare look at Guy again as he continued to berate me. "Not even an “ouch?” “Ouch” costs nothing. Surely you could utter an “ouch.”"

I swung my hand back in a fist as Guy grunted. I kicked him at the back of the knees before kicking his back as he fell the ground with a grunt. I quickly pulled my horse along, and leaped on its back cantering away. I turned around to see Guy getting back on his feet as he sheathed his sword, he looked frustrated and slightly embarrassed. I smirked before I kept focusing on in front of me.

"Ouch" I hissed through clenched teeth as I quickly made my way home. I climbed into my window, and got out of my Nightwatchmen clothes, hiding them safely, I was currently dressed in my undergarments, as I filled a fresh bowl of water, and started washing my cut over the wash bowl with a cloth. It stung slightly, but I soon grew numb to the pain. It wasn't deep, but it would take time to heal. I sighed before I heard the front door downstairs open.

"Sir Guy?" I heard my father say as I paused, my blood froze, as I peeked downstairs to see Guy, stiffly talking with my father as I hurried to clean the rest of my cut.

"Is she home?" Guy asked as I scoffed. I didn't want or need him to be here at this current moment in time. To be honest, I was nervous he might realize or notice the cut, he seems to notice many things when it comes to me.

"Yes. Come through." My father's welcoming yet adgitated voice spoke as I gulped and cleaned my wound faster, wincing a few times, my eyes flickering to the door, worried someone would enter my room and pounce on me. I could hear my father's footsteps on the stairs, as I quickly dried my arm.

"Father?" I asked as he came into the room, his eyes immediately went to the bowl and the cut on my arm as his face went from peaceful to worried.

"Are you hurt?" He asked me holding out his hand so that I would show him my wound. I wasn't stupid.

"No, I caught it on a splinter on the door." I told evasively as my father still didn’t look very convinced as he frowned harder before trying to reach for my arm.

"Let me see." He ordered as I took a small step back slightly.

"No, no, no. It’s nothing. What does Gisborne want?" I asked as I turned around from him, trying to get him off focusing me, which seemed to work. I saw in the corner of my eye his expression changed from worried and concern to confusion.

"I don’t know. Come on. Come down." He gave me a small smile, as I reached for my dressing gown, that was lying on my bed. I wrapped it round, ensuring my wounded arm was hidden, as I followed my father down the stairs to where Guy stood waiting in the main room. He was waiting by the fireplace, as I glanced nervously at my father before crossing the room towards Guy. I know my father stood behind us by the table as he watched from a distance, which only made my slightly more nervous.

"Esme." Guy greeted bowing his head slightly out of respect as I made a small curtsy. Before I looked up at him, I would have preferred not to look at him in those pale blue eyes, but I did with a small smile as he smirked.

"To what do we owe the honour, Sir Guy?" I asked him with a hint of confusion in my voice as I watched as Guy began to pace nervously in front of the fireplace, every so often he glanced back at me and made a sound that he was clearing the throat.

"Today I am attending... I’m sure you would expect, as you yourself may also have the intention...But I thought, even so, that would not necessarily make my question redundant." He asked me nervously as I truly had no idea what it was Guy was asking me, as he looked at me.

"Attending...?" I asked him.

"The Sheriff ’s fair." He stated as if it was obvious as it suddenly dawned on me. Opps, today is the Sheriff's fair and normally there is an archery competition, I always loved watching it, especially if it is even matched.

"Oh." I responded before I waited silently, for what Guy was going to say next, except he didn't say anything as I bit on the inside of my lip.

"So what’s your answer?" He asked eager as I gave a small frown of confusion.

"Forgive me, Sir Guy, I do not yet understand the question." I asked with a slight chuckle, as I saw him sigh before looking towards the window before turning his gaze once back to me.

"I am inviting you to the fair as my personal guest." He asked, you could tell in his voice he was slightly nervous, as I shifted my weight to my other foot. I tried not to show it, but I was hoping to make up an excuse that would mean I didn't have to be his personal guest and that I could enjoy the fair, as a commoner. Even try and have a shot in the competition.

"I fear I wouldn’t be good company. I’m tired. I didn’t sleep well…." I tried to explain to him politely as he looked annoyed that I had rejected him. It wasn't a total lie, I wasn't sleeping at all well these days, and I am sure he could see that with the bags under my eyes.

"You’re declining my invitation?" He scowled as I went to protest before my father took a few steps forward to interven.

"Esme is delicate" My father told him as Guy just smirked slightly.

"I know that" He muttered under his breath as my heart gave an uncomfortable leap in my chest as I drew a cautious deep breath.

"She hasn't been sleeping well and she is…" He began before I gulped, I didn't need my father to accidently spill about myself being wounded.

"I would be honored Sir Guy. Thank you." I quickly replied with a smile, as he smiled at first before frowned slightly as if to try and comprehend if I was planning on being his personal guest or not.

"So you will come?" He asked me slightly confused as I smiled and nodded as he smiled and gave a sigh of relief.

"Good. It should be an interesting day." Guy started as he grabbed his coat and began putting it on over his shoulders. "The Sheriff is convinced that he’ll lure Robin Hood. He’s put up a silver arrow as a prize." He told us as I gave a small gasp, though no one noticed as we made our way towards the front door. SILVER?

"Silver?" My father asked shocked.

"Yeah, but it won’t work. Hood is delegating his crimes to lackeys now. I confronted one of them this morning." Sir Guy started to brag as I gulped slightly looking at him as if I was interested, when I really wasn't I just didn't want to look guilty.

"An outlaw?" I asked him innocently as he turned his head towards me.

"Or a disguised villager. I’ll find him. He is marked. I inflicted a wound to his arm. I was being kind. I should have killed him. Well, I’ll send a coach for you then. Good day.." Sir Guy told before he looked at me as I looked down. "My Lady" He added shyly as I gave him a small smile in return.

Every word that Sir Guy just spoke, my father was picking up the pieces and putting them together as I avoided his gaze. I knew right now that he had figured out how I was the NightWatchman.

"Sir Guy." My father spoke as he opened the door for Guy. Guy hesitated looking at me for a moment before he left as my father very quickly locked the door behind him, as he gave a sigh. He looked hurt and betrayed as I just gulped slightly where I stood.

"I think you owe me an explanation, young lady." He demanded as I sighed and rolled my eyes before I started to march my way back up the stairs towards my bedchambers with my father coming up the stairs straight behind me.

"It was you, wasn’t it?" He demanded.

"There are people starving. People whose men folk have died at the mine. Should we do nothing?" I defended as I could hear him growl behind me.

"You think you’re Robin Hood now?" He questioned as I scoffed, and closed my door. I leant my back against the door, shutting out my father, using my weight to ensure he didn't come into my room. I knew he stood furious outside my door, as I gulped slightly.

"Is that it? You’re in competition with Robin?" He shouted angrily as I flinched from behind the door.

"This is no competition. I’ve been helping people far longer than him." I snapped as I heard him mutter something under his breath. There was a silence between us as I stood against the door unsure on what to do next.

"How much longer?" His voice came like a whisper, an angry whisper full of venom as I glanced up at the ceiling before back at my feet.

"Three years!" I shouted with gritted teeth. I heard him sigh harder as it made my heart drop even further.

"I do not know you at all, do I?" He questioned. I could hear how betrayed he was from his words, as I couldn't say anything else. I heard his footsteps leave from behind my door, as I slid against the wood, until I was sitting on the floor. I kicked against the ground frustrated, I was angry that my father couldn't show me any support. That he wanted me to be some Lady who would marry, bear children. That isn't me! I need to be free, I need to have something to fight for. Maybe one day I will marry and have a family but I can't and won't now!