Back at Knighton Hall. Gisborne faces Edward across the table, both seated. Gisborne is patiently holding in his temper, but not his contempt. Gisborne is currently eating food that was offered to him.

"What do you want?" Edward asked him.

"Maybe some salt." Guy asked as he spits food out onto his plate.

"Where’s Esme?" Edward asked slightly concerned for his daughter. He didn’t know if he had done anything to her.

"Good question." Guy sneered.

"If you’ve hurt her... if you’ve done anything to her..." Edward tried as Guy looked up at him un amused.

"You’ll what?" Guy asked him acidly as Edward stares at him. They both heard the sound of a distraught horse outside as Edward rose to his feet, followed by a loud thud. Edward swung the door open, as Guy followed him. Guy tried not to show concern but it horrified him and made his heart break. Edward went to his daughter side as she laid coughing on her back.

"Esme!" He cried to her. He gasped, she was cut on her left cheek. A gash cutting through her shirt on her side from the arrow, was still bleeding. The back of her white shirt was stained red, from the evident signs of whipping, revealing her past scars as well, causing Guy's heart to stop. Cuts were evident also through her ripped leather pants. Her hair was messy and stuck to her forehead.

Bruising was forming over her chest from several kicks. She had been lucky to escape when they weren't looking. Tears were stained on her cheeks, as her father helped her weakly to her feet.

"Who did this to you?" He asked her worried as she shook her head unable to speak. She glanced up at the frozen Guy standing in the doorway before she stood up straight, baring through all the pain and walked inside. Her body aching as Edward was always wondering how his daughter could do this.

"Sir Guy. We were not expecting you." She spoke her voice rigid at first. They were all inside once again, as Guy was fighting himself on whether or not to send for a physician or to accuse her of betrayal.

"I know! Sorry. I just popped in for a little chat. Where have you been?" He asked her as she looked away.

"At the hanging. Can we get you something to drink?" She offered as she leant against the table weak, pain aching through her muscles, as she tried to fight the pain from overwhelming her.

"I don’t think so. Show me your necklace." He whispered to her as she looked up at him innocently, even though he could read the pain she was trying to hide.

"What necklace?" She asked breathless as Edward went over to Gisborne.

"If I may say, Sir Guy—" Edward tried to reason before Gisborne furiously backslaps Edward. Esme is shocked. Edward was going to beg to send for a physician.

"Show me your necklace!" Guy ordered her as Esme looked at Guy fearful now.

"Have I committed a crime?" She questioned.

"Show me the necklace." Guy ordered his voice more demanding as Esme looked betrayed causing Guy to feel his heart break slightly further.

"I will not. This is the end of our friendship. How can I be friends with somebody who demands proof of my innocence without stating my crime?" Esme snapped before she whimpered leaning heavily against the dining table. Her face pale, sweat dripping down from her forehead, as she closed her eyes taking in deeper breaths.

"You betrayed me to Robin Hood. You gave him the necklace. You told him of my plan. And now, you will pay the price." Guy accused.

"You have no proof." Esme muttered

"And you have no necklace." Guy smirked thinking he had won.

"It is upstairs." Esme stated simply

"No, it’s not." His voice was a evil teasing as Esme gulped.

"It is in my bedchamber. I will fetch it for you." She insisted

"Don’t waste my time." Guy snapped through clenched teeth.

"Please. Let me prove myself to you." Esme whispered to him gently, as Gisborne glares at her, and then reluctantly steps back to let her pass. Esme steps slowly but boldly upstairs. Guy got a closer look at her back; he knew she needed treatment, he felt guilty of how he was so rude. He would hunt those who did this to her.

Meanwhile upstairs Esme is overturning furniture and making a mess, her breathing is uneven as she leant against the bed post, holding her stomach when Gisborne appears in the doorway and leans on the jamb. Guy could see her pain, as she scrunched her face up, breathing fast and uneven breaths.

"Trying to make it look like a robbery?" He questioned as Esme whirls around, fearful.

Oh, my! Robin Hood’s broken in and stolen [kicks something out of the way] the necklace!" Guy sarcastically expressed as he faces Esme.

"I thought we were friends." He spoke sadly as he gripped her wrist, even though he didn't know that it was actually hurting her more than he ever knew. She bit her lip trying to not think of the pain.

"So did I." Esme whispered sadly.

"The only reason you paid me any attention was to feed information to my enemy." Guy asked as Esme looked horrified that he thought so low of her.

"That’s not true."

"Why persist with lies? You’re dead anyway." Guy snarled, Esme face shows fear, and then she crosses to window, her back to Gisborne.

"You still do not have the courage to tell me the truth?" He questioned her as he sits on a chair behind him.

"The truth? The truth is this country is being choked to death. The truth is honest people are being forced to lie and cheat and steal. And if you really want to know the truth..." her voice was breaking, whilst outside, Robin edges towards the window from the loft, his back to the wall...

"then you should know that I—" Esme glances down as Robin holds out the necklace to her.

"What?" Guy asked her as Esme takes the necklace from Robin’s hand. Robin looks up at her expectantly. Robin was worried when he saw how pale she was and the deep cut across her cheek.

"I have something to show you." Esme whispered as she slowly turns around to face Gisborne, holding the necklace up. He stares at it incredulously and walks over to her.

"It’s not possible." Guy whispered as Esme shoves the necklace into his hand.

"Feel it! It is real! And you owe me an apology." Esme whispered as Guy was constantly staring at the necklace in his hand.

"I’m sorry. I was wrong." He apologized before he suddenly became fearful for her "Esme, I told the Sheriff that you betrayed us."

"Tell him you were mistaken." She begged.

"He’s expecting news of your arrest." Guy informed as Robin is still outside the window listening with concern.

"Show him the necklace." Esme told him desperate.

"No necklace will persuade the Sheriff. I... I cannot protect you." Guy looked mortified.

"You must! It is proof!"

"You must prove your loyalty beyond all doubt." Guy told her as he knew exactly how to save her and her father.

"How?" Esme asked desperate and Gisborne grabs her shoulders. She winced but he took no notice as he looked into her eyes.

"Marry me." He whispered as Robin whirls his head towards the window, not wanting to believe his ears. "It’s the only way. As Lady Gisborne, I could protect you. What do you say?"

"You leave me no time to think." Esme deep down wished she could say no, but this was about saving her own neck. Robin stares out in disbelief, then looks back at the window.

"A moment ago you would have me hanged and now you want to marry me." Esme tried to explain but couldn't find any other words.

"Is it so difficult to prove your loyalty?" Guy asked heart broken.

"I am loyal... but..."

"But what? I know you were once betrothed to Robin Hood." Guy sneered at Robin's name as Esme gasped. Her eyes were wide as she leant against the window.

"What?" Her voice was barely a whisper as Robin outside had no idea that Esme didn't know. Guy was surprised that she didn’t know of her marriage that had been arranged to Robin.

"You didn't know?" He asked as all she could do was shake her head no.

"Would you still hesitate if he were asking the question?" He asked her as she knew that if Robin asked her to marry him. She couldn’t, she thought of Robin as her brother, she couldn't love him as a wife should love her husband. She looked up at Guy, as he was searching her eyes.

"I would never marry him." Esme stated, as Robin looks back up at the window, visibly hurt by her words.

"I despise Robin Hood." She lied, she loved him like a brother as Robin grimaces and looks away. He knew she loved him as a brother but even though she was lying to Guy it still hurt him inside. But what was worse in his eyes, was that he didn’t know if she was lying or saying the truth about not wanting to marry him.

"Really? So what about me? Will you... marry... me?" Guy asked as Esme as Robin lifts his head, fearful of the answer. Esme’s mind is racing, but she can think of no way out. There is a long pause as she decides and Robin stares anxiously at the window.

"Yes." Her voice was defeated as Robin grimaces with the thought of losing her a second time and throws his head back against the wall.

"I will marry you. I will marry you the day King Richard returns to England." Esme stated, as Gisborne hangs his head in relief as Esme unhappily glances away. Gisborne looks up at Esme and leans in for a kiss, Esme was slightly shocked, as their lips met. She hated the feeling of butterflies in her stomach, as his hand grazed past her wounded side, causing her to wince pulling back, as she fell to her knees. Guy caught her, worry flooding his eyes as he helped her back to her feet.

"Sh-Shall we go downstairs and tell my father the good news?" She informed breathless not daring to look in his eyes as he nodded.

"Yes. I have an apology to make." Guy informed as Gisborne leaves the room. Esme sadly turns around to close a shutter. She sees Robin looking at her despondently.

"I’m sorry!" She whispered honestly and disheartened. Esme closes the other shutter. Robin rests his head back on the wall in utter confusion and dismay, and then lets it fall forward to his chest. Inside after the news was shared to Edward and his apology from Guy, Guy sent for a physician as Esme collapsed from the pain running through her body. She still hated the fact that she had agreed to marry the man she hated……….