I hadn't left the house in several weeks. The physician visited every second day, to ensure my wounds were healing; my father tried his hardest to look after me. Guy visited as often as he could; I guess I enjoyed the company, as I was restricted to my bed. He kept asking for the men's names whom had done this to me. But I answered truthfully. I didn’t know their names only by their faces.

Robin and Djaq visited to see that I was healing and Robin being a loving brother wanted to ensure I was alright. It gave me comfort when I saw him, I was still shocked that I was never told I would have had to marry Robin if he hadn't of gone off to fight in the Holy Lands. It was the King's Birthday today, as I was dressed in my red gown, I felt much better as I stood in Locksley Manor beside my father.

A crowd of people are talking and drinking. My father and I stood near the fireplace under the stairs. I scowl at the guests.

"What is it?" My father whispered as I looked among the crowd.

"What is it? This is Robin’s house. Look at these people." I snarled as I watched as Guy started to  addresses the crowd.

"My lords, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for your attendance here today. As you know we are here to celebrate the King’s birthday." He announced as I watched as he turns to the table and pours wine into a goblet.

"We wish him success in the Holy Land..." He kept going as he picks up two goblets and walks over to me...

"..and we pray for his speedy return to these shores." Guy announced as hands a goblet each to my father and I, I smile slightly as I takes it. Gisborne goes back to the table to pick up his own drink.

"Please, raise your goblets in a toast... to King Richard." He smirked.

"King Richard." We all toasted as the guests all sip from their goblets. I noticed Guy staring at me as he drinks. I lowered my goblet and noticed him staring with a smirk as I gave an uncomfortable gulp, as he set his goblet down on the table.

"I, myself.... have a particular reason to hope for the King’s early return to England. For when that day comes, this fair lady, Esme..." He whispered my name as I stared at him with apprehension in my eyes. "... has consented to be my wife." He announced as the guests “oh” and applauds. My father took my hand giving it a squeeze; it made me relax slightly knowing he was still beside me.

"Before I toast my future bride..." He started as he takes a ring from the table and steps towards me. "... there is something that I would like to present to her." He smiled as I watched as  Gisborne walks over to me. My face is blank as Gisborne holds up the ring. I couldn't deny that the red and black engagement ring wasn't beautiful.

"May I?" He whispered smirking.

"This means so much to you, doesn’t it?" I questioned as he frowned slightly.

"This means everything to me. Have I not expressed myself?" He asked as he takes my left hand.

"You mean everything to me." Gisborne sighs, and then slips the ring on my finger. My father watches silently. Gisborne pauses, letting the satisfaction of the moment sink in.

"My lords and ladies, I give you..." He announced as he takes my father's goblet and holds up my hand to show off to the world as if I am a prize."... the future Lady Gisborne."

"Hooray! Hooray!" An arrow suddenly knocks the goblet from Gisborne’s hand. Gisborne wildly looks up to see Robin standing at the top of the stairs with one foot on a crossbeam, which runs parallel to the stairs.

"Have we missed the speeches?" Robin asked facetiously as I made a small smirk from the corner of my mouth before Little John kicks open the back door as Allan bursts in the front. Gisborne glances at Allan with his hand on his hilt of his sword. Djaq follows Little John in as Much strides along the gallery behind Robin with his bow drawn.

"Hood! I don’t remember inviting you." Guy snapped angrily at the interruption of his party.

"Since when has a man needed an invitation to his own house?" Robin questioned with contempt as he made his way casually down the steps. Much passes Robin and goes downstairs as Djaq takes Allan’s  place by the front door and Allan goes to the back fireplace.

"Oh, I don’t know. Perhaps since he lost all rights to that house by becoming an outlaw?" Guy growled as he glares at Robin.

"I would have declined anyway. My men and I are here on business." Robin laughed as I watched as Much heads straight for the food as Robin addresses the guests. I gave a small inaudible chuckle at the site of Much.

"Please, everyone, if you could assist us by removing all your jewellery and valuables and handing them to that man over there. Much?" Robin announced cheerfully as Much, chewing, looks up, then wipes his mouth.

"And then proceed to that room where you will all wait quietly until we’ve gone." Robin smirked as Guy growled.

"Do as he says." He growled angrily as Robin leans on a post at the foot of the stairs. I saw him glance at me with a small wink, as I raised an eyebrow.

"Wise decision, Gisborne." Robin teased as Little John, shaking his head in a silent scold, takes a sword from a guest.

"Well, come on! Move it! Move it! Get up there." Little John herds the guests towards the back as Much opens his shoulder bag. Robin looks at me and raises his eyebrows briefly with a glint in his eye. I have to fight to keep the smile from my face.

"This way, please, my friends. Thank you." Allan spoke as Much nods, mouth full, as the guests pass and put things in his bag.

"Look on the bright side. You’ll sleep well tonight, knowing your donations will be feeding the poor of Nottinghamshire by this time tomorrow." Robin announced as I let a small smile slip onto my lips for a second as Allan and Little John herd the guests into the back room. Robin checks their progress, then looks back again at me. Gisborne must have noticed that Robin was looking at me since he growled and jealously flared in his eyes as I looked at the floor.

"Signal." Little John spoke as I looked up to see him motioning towards Allan and Much.

"Nearly done." Robin smirked as I narrowed my eyes curious. Little John, Allan and Much go to stand by Robin, who leans his bow against the post.

"Master?" Much questioned him as I watched as Robin steps to Gisborne and claps once.

"So..." Robin began as Guy starts to draw his sword but Djaq puts her blade on his arm.

"Robin, this is ugly." My father warned as Robin chuckled pointing at Guy.

"Yes, this is ugly. This is my house. So, Esme —" I struggled not to laugh when he accused Guy of being ugly.

"Back off, Locksley. Esme does not carry money about her person." Guy snapped interrupting Robin as I watched as Little John comes over and puts his staff to Guy's neck. Robin walked over towards me as I kept a straight face.

"How do you know?" Robin asked in a jealous tone as I raised an eyebrow. He couldn't think that low of m surely.

"He is right. I do not carry money." I spoke in a monotone.

"My compliments. You are very wise to take precautions when there are so many unsavoury characters around." Robin congratulated as he glanced at Guy. I didn't dare look anywhere but at him slightly thankful he interrupted the party, but nervous since I knew Robin was planning on doing something to annoy Guy. Allan glances around the room then leaves by the back door as Much stares wide-eyed at Robin, who picks up my left hand.

"But this ring..." Robin scoffs.

"Robin... signal." Little John warned through his teeth, as Robin was still grasping my new engagement ring.

"You’ve taken everything else. You can leave that." Guy snapped.

"Robin..." I whispered, I knew in my eyes I was pleading him as he leaned it towards me causing me to look left. I knew Guy was watching as I could hear him smirk.

"What?" He whispered.

"The signal!" Little John shouted impatient this time as I watched him move away from Guy towards the back door. Robin kissed my hand making me gasp, as I noticed that he had pulled off the ring from my finger.

"We should do this again. It was entertaining." Robin teased at Guy with contempt as he turns for the back door. I watched as Guy drew his sword as I gulped.

"With any luck, once will be enough." Guy snapped as I watched as Robin turns, drawing his sword and blocks Guy's in one motion, spinning Gisborne round as my father pulls me out of the way and towards safety as we watched. I didn't really want either of them to die, nor did I want either to win. Guy, with a dagger in his left hand, attempts to reach back with it to stab Robin, but Robin grabs his arm, twists it behind his back and pushes him forwards into the post by the stairs.

Robin pulls the dagger out of Gisborne’s hand, then steps back, allowing Gisborne to spin round and strike with his sword. Robin blocks it and drives Gisborne’s arm up, pushing him back, then pins Gisborne’s sleeve to the post with the dagger. Gisborne reaches out with his free hand at Robin’s throat, but Robin pushes it away and steps back, bringing his scimitar to the front and pointing it at Gisborne. Robin backs away. Gisborne glares at Robin, who grins wickedly back at him.

Gisborne pulls his arm down from the dagger followed by a rip, which I assume meant he ripped his sleeve as I watched Robin's face went from grinning to wide-eyed. I frowned what was he staring at?

"Surprise." Guy smirked as I didn't understand what Robin was staring at as he just gasped.

"It was you!" Robin muttered shocked as he stood frozen. Guy pulled the dagger out of his sleeve and Djaq runs over to Robin.

"Robin, what’s the matter with you? Wake up!" Djaq snapped as she pushes Robin past my father and I towards the back exit as Gisborne punches her in the back with the butt of the dagger handle, knocking her to the floor. I was still in shock holding onto my father surprised as I hadn't even notice the Sheriff enter.

"Food poisoning?" He asked as I saw Guy runs outside past the Sheriff, causing me to follow. Will, Allan and Little John are on horseback, getting away as fast as they can. Robin, sitting on his horse, glares back at Guy as Much rides past him. Robin starts his horse and Guy chases him on foot, as I was hurrying behind.

"Guy, leave him." I asked him as he runs to an outrider’s horse as Robin gallops away.

"I don’t think so." His voice was determined.

"What has he taken? Trinkets, a few purses... nothing." I begged hoping he would just let it be as he started to mount the horse.

"He has your ring." Guy snapped as I watched him ride on after them as the Sheriff strolls over towards mine as I blew a shaky breath.

"Your parties are much more fun than mine." He snickered as I ignored him and watched Guy disappear after Robin. I was nervous but I didn't exactly know for I was nervous for. Guy if Robin got hold of him? Or Robin when Guy wants my ring back. I watched as Djaq is escorted past me and taken to Nottingham. I stared on after her concerned. What a day, my father insisted that we head home as I hated having to wait. Something felt wrong deep down and it made me queasy……